Pakistan offers Kyrgyzstan shortest route to Arabian Sea

ISLAMABAD, Dec 4 (KUNA) -- President of Pakistan, Asif Ali Zardari on Thursday has reiterated Pakistan's readiness to offer Kyrgyzstan the shortest and most economical route to the Arabian Sea.
According to a press release by President House, the Pakistani President received his Kyrgyz counterpart Sadyr Zhaparov at the President House in federal capital Islamabad.
Before the delegation level talks the two leaders held a brief private meeting to review bilateral relations.
President Zardari reiterated Pakistan's readiness to offer Kyrgyzstan the shortest and most economical route to the Arabian Sea and underlined the importance of expanding direct flights to support trade, tourism and people to people contacts.
Welcoming the visiting leader, the President said this high-level visit by a Kyrgyz President after 20 years would help bring fresh momentum to the already cordial ties between Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan.
He noted that Pakistan values its close and fraternal relations with Kyrgyzstan shaped by shared faith, common heritage and cultural affinity.
The President appreciated Kyrgyzstan's completion of its segment of the CASA 1000 project and reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment to completing its part of the project, which is now at an advanced stage.
President Zhaparov thanked Pakistan for supporting Kyrgyzstan's candidacy for the non-permanent seat of the UN Security Council and invited the President to visit Kyrgyzstan at a time of his convenience.
Both leaders reviewed cooperation across various fields and agreed that current trade levels do not reflect the real potential of the two economies.
They highlighted the need to broaden commercial exchanges.
The President welcomed the presence of a Kyrgyz business delegation at the Pakistan Kyrgyzstan Business Forum, describing it as a sign of the shared desire to strengthen economic links.
The two Presidents also discussed regional connectivity and expressed satisfaction with the operational road corridor under the Quadrilateral Traffic in Transit Agreement.
The meeting reaffirmed the shared commitment of both countries to deepen cooperation in trade, energy, connectivity, education, banking and people to people exchanges for the mutual benefit of the two brotherly nations.
Matters relating to the regional and international situation also came under discussion, said the release.
The meeting was attended by senior members of both sides. (end) sbk.mb