AM Shahid (Former Ambassador): Visit of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to Baku will further boost bilateral cooperation between Pakistan and Azerbaijan. PM Shehbaz will also address business forum in Baku to convince Azeri investors to invest in Pakistan. He will also co-chair the meetings of Pak-Azerbaijan joint working groups in a bid to streamline investment and business activities between both the countries. Interactions between Pakistani and Azerbaijani businesses will explore the new avenues in trade, commerce, energy and other sectors. Pakistan already enjoys very good relations with Azerbaijan. Baku has signed purchase agreement with Pakistan for JF-17 fighter jets. Current tune of bilateral trade needs to be enhanced. Climate change is very important as Pakistan is the worst affected country in the world. Strategic and defense relations with Azerbaijan are very significant. We helped Azerbaijan in achieving its strategic goals and these will grow with the passage of time. 

A Z Hilali (IR Expert): Pakistan and Azerbaijan enjoy cordial relations which span over decades. Perhaps Pakistan was second country in the world which recognized all newly freed central Asian states. Pakistan approached Azerbaijan and offered to cooperate with Baku. Pakistan was second or third country which established embassy in Baku. Almost every Pakistani leader has paid visit to Baku since 1992. Azerbaijan is the first country which provided a list of sectors and things to Pakistan to start trade. Bilateral trade tune touched two billion dollars. Now Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is going to Baku with a strong team to further enhance ties in trade, education and other sectors. Azerbaijan has expressed willingness to enhance cooperation in engineering and other sectors. Shehbaz Sharif will try to convince Azerbaijani investors to invest in Pakistan without any hurdle and will offer all out facilitations to Azerbaijani investors. Pakistan and Azerbaijani will cooperate to curb terrorism in the region. Both the countries will play their role in international and regional peace and order.