Kyrgyzstan President Sadyr Zhaparov arrived in Islamabad on Wednesday for a two-day maiden state visit.

The Kyrgyz president and his high-level delegation comprising senior cabinet ministers, top officials and prominent business leaders landed at Nur Khan Airbase, where Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari received them.

State-run Radio Pakistan reported that a 21-gun salute was presented in honour of the visiting dignitary while children, dressed in traditional attire, offered him a bouquet.

PM Shehbaz later said in a post on X the visit was the first by a Kyrgyz president in 20 years.

“This long-awaited visit marks a significant moment in our enduring brotherhood.

“I look forward to a meaningful and forward-looking engagement. Pakistan and Kyrgyz Republic are poised for a bright future together.”

A press release issued by the Prime Minister’s Office earlier said the invitation for the visit was extended to the Kyrgyzstan president by PM Shehbaz.

Separately, Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar welcomed his Kyrgyz counterpart at the Foreign Office.

The FO said the two reviewed the full spectrum of bilateral relations, with a particular focus on trade, energy, connectivity, education and people-to-people contacts, as well as enhanced cooperation at multilateral forums.

“They also exchanged views on recent regional & international developments of mutual interest.

“Both sides reiterated their commitment to further strengthen and diversify bilateral cooperation in all areas of shared interest.”

It later said both sides agreed to hold regular meetings of Pakistan-Kyrgyzstan Bilateral Political Consultations and Bilateral Inter-governmental Commission to “unlock the full potential” of their bilateral relationship.

“Both leaders agreed to enhance the bilateral economic cooperation and noted with satisfaction convening of business forum on the sidelines of the visit. The two leaders also hoped that early finalisation of the Transit Trade Agreement would help achieving the bilateral trade target of $100 million.

“Both sides reiterated their shared vision of timely and effective implementation of the CASA-1000 project. They also highlighted the importance of secure, sustainable and diversified connectivity routes between Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan for further enhancement of bilateral as well as regional trade.”

FM Dar appreciated the government and people of the Kyrgyz Republic for being “gracious hosts” to Pakistani students and workers and agreed to take measures to institutionalise and enhance cooperation in the people-to-people sphere.

Pakistan and the Kyrgyz Republic share longstanding relations, founded on deep-rooted cultural, historical and spiritual affinities.

The two countries had agreed to promote bilateral cooperation in cryptocurrency, blockchain technology and digital finance in August.

In July, they reaffirmed an agreement to increase bilateral trade to $100 million at a session of their intergovernmental commission.

Alongside bilateral relations, Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan are both members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisa­tion, a 10-nation Eurasian security and political grouping whose other members include China, Russia, India, and Iran.