RIYADH, May 8 (Xinhua) -- Saudi Arabia and Pakistan on Saturday issued a joint statement on advancing cooperation between the two country's governments and private sectors.

The statement was unveiled during Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan's official visit to Saudi Arabia at the invitation of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The two sides discussed ways to strengthen relations and agreed to intensify exchanges between government officials and people from the private sector, the statement said.

The Pakistani prime minister praised the positive role of Saudi Arabia in resolving the issues facing the Islamic world, as well as its endeavors for regional and international peace and security.

Khan recalled his visits to Saudi Arabia in 2018 and 2019, as well as the visit of the Saudi crown prince to Pakistan in February 2019, during which they jointly announced the launch of the Saudi-Pakistan Supreme Coordination Council, the statement added.

Meanwhile, the Saudi crown prince assured his country's support for transforming Pakistan into a modern developed and welfare state.

The discussions also focused on increasing cooperation in energy, science, technology, agriculture and culture, as well as joint efforts in combating terrorism.

The two sides reiterated their full support for all the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.

Voicing their support for political solutions in Syria and Libya and the efforts of the United Nations and its envoys in this regard, they reaffirmed the importance of the commitment by all states to the UN Charter, according to the statement.

During the visit, various agreements and memoranda of understanding, including one on combating illicit traffic in narcotics, drugs, psychotropic substances and precursor chemicals, were signed.