Ashgabat: Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif held a meeting with President of Turkmenistan Qurban Ali Berdi Muhammadov in Ashgabat on Friday evening. They discussed various bilateral matters, including air connectivity between the two countries. They also exchanged views on TAPI gas project to meet the growing energy need of Pakistan. Earlier, when Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif arrived in Ashgabat on a two-day visit to Turkmenistan. At the airport, he was received by the deputy Prime Minister of Turkmenistan and officials of Pakistani embassy. During his stay, the Prime Minister will attend Global Conference on Sustainable Transport being held under the auspices of the United Nations. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon and Turkmenistan are co-hosting the Conference, which is likely to be attended by around 1,500 participants, including Heads of State, Government, Ministers and the UN officials. The Conference will discuss promotion and role of sustainable transport towards achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The conference, likely to be attended by around 1,500 participants including heads of state and government, ministers, civil society leaders and the UN officials, will discuss promotion and the role of sustainable transport towards achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. “Pakistan is keen to improve connectivity with Central Asian States by establishing transport and communication links. These will be conducive to tapping the potential of trade, economic interaction, people-to-people contacts and tourism,†an earlier statement released by the Foreign Affairs Ministry said. The statement said Pakistan and China had launched China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to provide seamless connectivity to Gwadar and Karachi ports. They also exchanged views on TAPI gas project and other affairs, and both of them discussed about air connectivity between the two countries. Earlier on arrival, the Prime Minister was received by the deputy Prime Minister of Turkmenistan and officials of Pakistani embassy. The prime minister is leading a delegation to the first ever Global Conference on Sustainable Transport being held at Ashgabat under the auspices of the United Nations. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon and Turkmenistan are co-hosting the Conference, which is likely to be attended by around 1,500 participants, including Heads of State, Government, Ministers and the UN officials.
The Conference will discuss promotion and role of sustainable transport towards achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
During the visit, the Prime Minister will also hold bilateral meeting with the President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, and exchange views on bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual interest. Pakistan is keen to improve connectivity with Central Asian States by establishing transport and communication links, which will be conducive to tap the potential of trade, economic interaction, people-to-people contacts and tourism.
The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor will provide seamless connectivity to ports at Gwadar and Karachi, and the rail and road transport corridors can be utilised by land-locked Central Asian countries to have access to Pakistan’s seaports.