ISLAMABAD, Jan 18: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and Kyrgyz President Askar Akaev on Tuesday resolved to activate the Economic Cooperation Organization (Eco) to the benefit of the member countries and to enhance cooperation among them in various fields.

The two leaders, who held talks on various issues, told reporters after the meeting that they had resolved to make Eco as effective as possible. They said Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan had decided to enhance bilateral cooperation in the areas of trade, culture and tourism.

Pakistan would import electricity from Kyrgyzstan and both countries would build roads to improve trade and tourism. "We want to reactivate it (Eco) and make it more vibrant by creating linkages between Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan.

We have identified areas of cooperation, including electricity and development of roads," said Mr Aziz. He said both countries were in agreement on reactivation of Eco because such groupings were useful to increasing trade and investment in the region.

Mr Akaev said his government would relax visa regime for Pakistani businessmen and students. He proposed visa-free entry for Pakistani diplomats and officials.

Asked how Kyrgyzstan could play its role in ensuring peace in Afghanistan, which was essential for boosting economic relations between Pakistan and the Central Asian states, Mr Akaev said his country had cooperated with the international community in the fight against terrorism. He appreciated Pakistan's commitment to eliminate terrorism.

He recalled that after the 9/11 attacks on the US, his country had stressed the need for an international anti-terror coalition. An international airbase in Kyrgyzstan played a crucial role in the fight against Al Qaeda in Afghanistan, he said, adding that the airbase had also ensured peace during the recent Afghan presidential election.

The Kyrgyz president said his country had provided relief and humanitarian assistance to the people of Afghanistan and added that thousands of Afghan refugees had been provided shelter in Kyrgyzstan.

Prime Minister Aziz said that the joint ministerial commission would meet within a few weeks to discuss matters relating to trade and commerce. He said both countries had historic ties which were deepening with growing people-to-people contacts.

He said the historic Silk Route would again play a key role to provide access to Kyrgyzstan to Pakistani seaports. It was decided at the meeting that Kyrgyzstan would provide electricity to Pakistan.

Pakistan would assist the landlocked country to develop its link to Karakoram Highway to get access to the seaports of Karachi and Gwadar. In reply to a question, Mr Aziz said that the lack of transportation facilities had caused hurdles in improving trade relations between the two countries.

He expressed the hope that the road link would be established by next year. He said Pakistan would relax visa regime for Kyrgyz businessmen. Earlier, a Memorandum of Understanding and two agreements were signed by the two sides.

Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri signed the agreements on behalf of Pakistan while Kyrgyz minister for finance represented his country on the occasion. Under the MoU, the foreign ministries of the two countries would cooperate with each other in different regional and international areas.

One of the two agreements signed would help avoid double taxation and prevent evasion of taxes on income. Under the other agreement, cooperation and mutual assistance would be extended in custom-elated matters.