Foreign Minister of Uzbekistan Bakhtiyor Saidov on Saturday appreciated Pakistan’s role in mediation efforts for peace in the Middle East and discussed bilateral ties in a call with Deputy Prime Minister and FM Ishaq Dar.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), the two “exchanged views on bilateral and multilateral matters of mutual interest.”

The ministry added that the foreign ministers discussed Pak-Uzbek relations and regional developments, with Saidov appreciating Pakistan’s “constructive role in mediation for regional peace and security.”

“Both Dar and Saidov agreed to remain in close contact,” it said.

Pakistan and Uzbekistan have undertaken various initiatives aimed at strengthening bilateral ties. In February, the countries signed memoranda of understanding worth $3.4 billion, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif inviting Uzbek business firms to explore investment opportunities in Pakistan’s textile, pharmaceutical, and other sectors.

Shehbaz, alongside Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev had also announced that both sides had also signed a protocol aimed at achieving an “ambitious yet easily achievable” target of increasing bilateral trade to $2b within five years.

Read: Uzbekistan calls for expanding trade

Among the key pacts, an MoU between Pakistan’s Drug Regulatory Authority and Uzbekistan’s Agency for Pharmaceutical Industry Development was signed to enhance cooperation in pharmaceutical products and regulatory functions.

To enhance trade ties, Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan and Uzbek Minister of Investments, Industry and Trade Laziz Kudratov signed a Protocol on the Expansion of the List of Goods under the Preferential Trade Agreement, along with an Agreement for the Establishment of the Pakistan-Uzbekistan Interregional Forum, aimed at strengthening regional and business-to-business cooperation.

In the defence sector, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and Uzbek Minister of Defence Shukhrat Khalmukhammedov signed an Action Plan for Defence Cooperation.