ISLAMABAD: Caretaker Federal Minister for National Heritage and Culture Jamal Shah has said Uzbekistan and Pakistan have strong, historic, religious, and friendly relations having a significant potential for further cooperation between the two brethren countries.
The minister said that in a meeting with the Ambassador of the Republic of Uzbekistan to Pakistan Mr. Oybek Arif Usmanov who was called up on him here at his office on Thursday.
During the meeting, both dignitaries agreed to focus on strengthening bilateral relations, enhancing the frequency of cultural exchanges as well as increasing high-level contacts to further explore new avenues of cooperation in the field of cultural heritage.
They also discussed exploring opportunities in the field of art and culture and to organise bilateral cultural events. Both sides discussed the mutual promotion of the tourism potential of Uzbekistan and Pakistan as well as the reconstruction of the Abu Rayhan Al-Biruni’s Laboratory at Nandana Fort Jhelum.
The caretaker minister said that the two countries had friendly and brotherly relations since long, adding that there was a significant potential for cooperation between the two sides.
The minister apprised the envoy about organizing the second phase of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Cultural Caravan, a month-long voyage, traversing CPEC with an objective to showcase rich culture and trade potential of the whole region.
Boosting Cultural Relations with Central Asian States
Jamal Shah said that all the Central Asian states including Uzbekistan would be specially invited to be part of CPEC cultural caravan which would play a significant role in promoting regional and cultural connectivity.
It is worth noting here that the federal minister in an exclusive interview with WENews a couple of days before mentioned about his commitment to strengthen the connecting bonds in the field of art and culture with the neighbouring countries particularly the central Asian states.
Meanwhile, the ambassador of the Republic of Uzbekistan to Pakistan Oybek Arif Usmanov reaffirmed the promotion of enhanced mutual relation between the two sides and acknowledged the potential for cooperation in the field of art, culture and literary heritage and expressed his desire to undertake joint ventures on a progressive basis.
