Pakistan and Saudi Arabia discussed expanding economic cooperation in agriculture, minerals and mining, and other sectors with investment potential, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of Finance on Thursday. The discussions took place during a meeting between Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb and Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan Dr Rajeh Tami Albugamy, who called on the minister for a courtesy visit, the ministry said in a post on X. The two sides emphasised the need to translate shared priorities into tangible outcomes and strengthen commercial engagement between the two countries. Aurangzeb reaffirmed the longstanding friendship between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia and appreciated Riyadh's continued support for Islamabad. He stressed the importance of further strengthening economic ties between the two countries. The finance minister also highlighted Pakistan's progress towards restoring macroeconomic stability, citing improvements in foreign exchange reserves and inflation, as well as recent upgrades by international credit-rating agencies. He referred to Pakistan's return to international capital markets through a $3 billion Eurobond issuance and its access to China's capital market. The two sides also discussed Pakistan's strategic geographic location and its potential to serve as a regional trade and transit hub, facilitating connectivity and creating opportunities for broader economic cooperation, according to the ministry. They exchanged views on the prevailing regional situation and the ongoing conflict, stressing the importance of peace, stability and continued cooperation in addressing emerging challenges and safeguarding regional economic prospects.