Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev expressed his “deep appreciation” for Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts to achieve a ceasefire between Iran and the US during a phone call with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) says in a statement.

“This was a clear reflection of the trust and confidence of the international community in Pakistan and its leadership,” the statement reads. “The two leaders agreed to maintain close contact and looked forward to their meeting, in person, later this year.”

The statement adds that the premier conveyed his best wishes to Aliyev for the upcoming World Urban Forum in Baku next week.

“He expressed confidence that the Forum, under Azerbaijan’s stewardship, would serve as a valuable platform for advancing the global urban development agenda,” the PMO says.