Gilani to visit Kyrgyzstan on March 15

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani will pay a two-day official visit to Kyrgyzstan from March 15 to boost bilateral relations besides seeking joint cooperation in trade, infrastructure and energy with the Central Asian Republic.Gilani is the first Prime Minister to visit the Kyrgyz Republic in last  15 years. Earlier, Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto visited the Central Asian state in 1995 after its independence in 1991.Prime Minister Gilani during his stay will hold talks with his Kyrgyz counterpart Almazbek Atambaev, President Roza Otunbayeva and Speaker of the Kyrgyz parliament.He will also address the business community and investors in Kyrgyzstan.Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar will also accompany the Prime Minister, a foreign office official told APP.During the Prime Minister’s visit, the two countries will sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the establishing Joint Business Council, an Agreement on cooperation in military training and a joint declaration.A 12-member group of Federation of Pakistan’s Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FPCCI) led by its president Senator Ghulam Ali, is also part of the Prime Minister’s delegation that will meet with local businessmen to seek the potential of joint investment and bilateral trade.Prime Minister Gilani’s visit to Kyrgyzstan is important in increasing the level of trade between the two countries and open new avenues of cooperation in diverse fields.Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan enjoy historic relations rooted in culture,traditions and ideology. Cooperation in education sector is an important aspect of the two countries’ relations.At present, around 1,500 Pakistanis are studying in Kyrgyzstan’s educational institutes mainly medical colleges, whereas Kyrgyz students are also getting education in Pakistan in areas including engineering, business administration, information technology and English language – APP