President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov arrived in Islamabad on two-day state visit for talks on regional and bilateral matters, focusing on economic and trade relations.

Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri received the Uzbek president on his arrival at the Chaklala military air base.

A 21-gun salute was heralded as the Uzbek President alighted of his special plane.

This is President Karimov's second visit to Pakistan. He last visited Islamabad in August 1992.

He was accompanied by ministers for foreign affairs, justice, finance and foreign trade as well as head of the Central Bank of Uzbekistan and other senior officials.

President Pervez Musharraf and his Uzbek counterpart will hold official talks.

Karimov will also have a meeting with Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz.

Pakistan and Uzbekistan will sign several agreements to intensify trade and investment, agriculture and consular matters, according to the foreign office.

Pakistan said that it enjoyed close and brotherly relations reactions with Uzbekistan and the two shared perceptions on major international and regional issues.

Pakistan said that bilateral trade with Uzbekistan was fast growing. It rose by over 50 percent last year.

Pakistan-Uzbek Joint Ministerial Commission, which met in December last year, took important decisions to further expand economic cooperation.

Pakistan and Uzbekistan are fellow members of Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) and fully cooperate with each other at regional and international levels.

"President Karimov's visit offers a welcome opportunity to reinforce the existing ties of friendship between Pakistan and Uzbekistan," the foreign office said.

Source: Xinhua