ISLAMABAD: Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani has called for closer Pakistan-Azerbaijan cooperation for the development of political and economic relations between the two countries.

Exchanges of a high-level delegation, trade ties and people-to-people contact will bring the two countries more closer, the Senate chairman said while talking to Speaker of Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan Sahiba Gafarova, who called on him here at Parliament House.

According to an official handout issued by the Senate Secretariat, during the meeting,  matters of mutual interest, regional security situation and bilateral relations were discussed in detail.

Mr Sanjrani said Pakistan-Azerbaijan relations were based on mutual trust, confidence, common historical, cultural and religious similarities.

“Pakistan cherishes its cordial relation with Azerbaijan. There is a dire need to further enhance parliamentary and institutional cooperation”, he added.

The Senate chairman thanked the visiting delegation for participating in the Second General Conference of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Economic Cooperation Organisation.

High-level parliamentary contacts and exchange of delegations should continue, he stressed.

Mr Sanjrani underscored that the Pakistan-Azerbaijan Parliamentary Friendship Group could be a forum to further cement bilateral ties.

“There is an urgent need to make the parliamentary friendship group more active and viable forum,” he said. He also stressed the need for reinvigorating the Parliamentary Union of ECO member states.

“Pakistan is committed to promoting cooperation in various fields, inter alia, including trade, energy and other areas of common interest. Both the countries have always supported each other’s posture on global issues of common interest,” he observed.

Touching upon the issue of the Nagorno Karabagh conflict, the Senate chairman underlined that Pakistan had always supported Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity under the UN resolution.

“Pakistan fully supports Azerbaijan’s position on the Nagorno-Karabakh issue,” he maintained.

Mr Sanjrani pointed out that the whole world was currently facing the pandemic and routine life had been immensely disturbed. Only through joint strategy and efforts, he said, they could be able to contain the epidemic.

The Senate chairman also briefed the visiting dignitary about the role and procedure of business of the Upper House of the Parliament. He thanked Azerbaijan for its extended cooperation and support on various issues and stated that the exemplary cooperation would continue in future as well.

Speaker of the Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan said her country also attached immense importance to its relationship with Pakistan. She also expressed gratitude to the Pakistan government for extending diplomatic support on the Nagorno Karabakh issue.

Published in Dawn, June 6th, 2021