Islamabad and Baku are developing their ties under a trilateral framework involving Pakistan, Turkiye and Azerbaijan, President Ilham Aliyev said on Sunday.

The Azeri president met with Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz in Baku, where CM Maryam arrived on a three-day visit on Saturday to represent Pakistan at the 13th UN World Urban Forum (WUF13).

“President Ilham Aliyev also emphasised that Azerbaijan-Pakistan relations are currently developing within a trilateral framework involving Azerbaijan, Türkiye, and Pakistan,” read a statement issued by the Azeri president’s office on the meeting.

During the meeting, the two sides “commended the development of fraternal relations and strategic partnership between Azerbaijan and Pakistan”.

“They discussed cooperation in political, economic, diplomatic, defence, and other fields, while also highlighting the importance of interregional cooperation and the strong potential for further expanding trade ties,” the statement said.

It was also highlighted during the meeting that “centres based on Azerbaijan’s ‘ASAN Khidmet’ experience have been established in Pakistan”.

Expressing satisfaction with participating in WUF13, the Punjab CM thanked Aliyev “for the invitation and praised the excellent organisation of the event”. “She emphasised that important global issues related to urban planning would be discussed in Baku,” the presidency said.

Noting that the beauty of Baku had deeply impressed her, Maryam “described the Azerbaijani capital as a remarkable example of harmony between culture and modern urban planning”, it added.

The chief minister said that during her trip, she visited the grave of Azerbaijan’s founder, Heydar Aliyev, and honoured his memory with deep respect and reverence.

Maryam conveyed the greetings of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, as well as her father and ex-premier Nawaz Sharif, to Aliyev. Aliyev expressed his gratitude for the greetings and asked that his own greetings be conveyed to PM Shehbaz and Nawaz, the statement added.

The Azerbaijan president “recalled the friendly relations” between Heydar Aliyev and Nawaz.

The PML-N later shared a video from the meeting, with captions stating that Maryam “emphasised that Pakistan’s strategic location and nuclear status are vital for regional balance”.

Meanwhile, a statement carried by state broadcaster Radio Pakistan said the two sides discussed bilateral relations and cooperation in trade and other sectors.

It said the Azerbaijani president lauded “Pakistan’s responsible mediatory role for peace in the region”.

“He appreciated the diplomatic measures initiated by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his team,” the statement said.

It added that CM Maryam said PM Shehbaz’s “untiring efforts for Pakistan’s economic progress are the foundation for progress, peace, and stability in the country”.

Ali Mustafa Dar, Maryam’s brother-in-law who was appointed as her adviser on artificial intelligence and special initiatives a few months ago, was also part of the delegation.

“An honour accompanying my leader Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif to today’s meeting with the President of Azerbaijan H.E. Ilham Aliyev,” he wrote on X.

Maryam to address UN World Urban Forum

CM Maryam will also “represent Pakistan at the UN Urban Forum Leaders Summit and deliver Pakistan’s vision for safe, resilient and inclusive cities to the world”, according to Punjab Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, who is accompanying her.

On Monday, the chief minister will inaugurate the Pakistan Pavilion, “showcasing Punjab’s transformational initiatives, including Apni Chhat Apna Ghar, one of the world’s fastest and largest affordable housing programmes with 160,000 loans approved”.

Aurangzeb highlighted that 100,489 families had “already moved into homes they can finally call their own”.

Earlier this week, President Aliyev spoke to PM Shehbaz on the phone, with the latter conveying his best wishes for WUF13.

The premier “expressed confidence that the forum, under Azerbaijan’s stewardship, would serve as a valuable platform for advancing the global urban development agenda”, the Prime Minister’s Office had said.

“The two leaders agreed to maintain close contact and looked forward to their meeting, in person, later this year,” it added.