ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Azerbaijan Tuesday agreed to increase efforts for attaining the optimum level of economic cooperation and the two countries should set the goals of concluding agreements of preferential tariff and trade, investment, energy and other areas for the purpose.

The understanding was reached during a one-on-one meeting between Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev who landed here earlier on the day to attend the 13th ECO summit.

On his arrival at the PM House, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif received the foreign dignitary at the main entrance. Both the leaders shook hands and proceeded for one-on-one meeting.

The prime minister welcomed the Azerbaijan president to the ECO summit and thanked for the hospitality extended to him during his last visit to Baku in October.

Both the leaders reviewed the decisions taken during the prime minister's visit and expressed satisfaction at the progress of implementation of those decisions.

The two leaders underscored that Islamabad Declaration and ECO Vision 2025 were important documents and would offer a roadmap for the success of the organization and common prosperity of the entire region.

The two sides noted that trade figures did not reflect the potential existing between the two states in terms of economic cooperation and decided to create more opportunities for increase in trade and economic activities.

They hoped that economic relations between the two countries would grow in the near future.

Prime Minister Sharif appreciated Azerbaijan's continued support on Jammu and Kashmir dispute and Azerbaijan's invaluable role in OIC Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir.

He reiterated Pakistan's principled position on Azerbaijan's stand on Nagorno-Karabakh issue.

The president of Azerbaijan expressed his pleasure on attending the ECO summit and thanked the prime minister for the hospitality accorded to him and his delegation.

Ilham Aliyev thanked the prime minister's continued support on the Nagorno-Karabakh region.

He also expressed concerns over the escalation of human rights violations in Indian occupied Kashmir and reiterated Azerbaijan's support for the exercise of the right to self-determination for the people of Jammu and Kashmir.