ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Russia on Thursday agreed to deepen their bilateral relationship through a long-term, multi-dimensional partnership encompassing trade, energy, security, culture, education, and people-to-people exchanges.
The understanding was reached during a meeting between Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov in Islamabad on Thursday.
On the occasion, Ishaq Dar reaffirmed Pakistan’s strong commitment to its ties with Russia.
Both sides agreed to pursue a long-term, multi-dimensional partnership spanning trade, energy, security, culture, education & people-to-people exchanges.
On Wednesday, Pakistan and Russia held the 15th round of the Pakistan-Russia Consultative Group on Strategic Stability in Islamabad.
Pakistan’s Additional Foreign Secretary (Arms Control & Disarmament) Tahir Andrabi and Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov led the respective delegations, said a Joint Statement issued after the talks.
Both sides engaged in comprehensive discussions on international security, regional and global stability, as well as key issues related to arms control, disarmament, and non-proliferation.
During the talks, both sides agreed to maintain close coordination both bilaterally and at relevant international forums.
Pakistan, Russia collaboration
They also exchanged views on topics under the purview of the UN General Assembly’s First Committee, the Conference on Disarmament, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), and the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC).
Additionally, discussions covered matters related to outer space, international information security, and new and emerging technologies, including the military applications of artificial intelligence.
The two sides expressed satisfaction at the convergence of views on the range of topics.
In this regard, they decided to maintain close coordination both bilaterally and at relevant international platforms.
It was agreed to hold the 16th meeting of the Group next year in Moscow.
It is pertinent to mention that the Prime Minister of Russia, Mikhail Mishustin, visited Pakistan to attend the 23rd Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) conference in Islamabad in October last year.
In the same month, the three-day Pakistan-Russia Trade and Investment Forum was held in Moscow.
Privatisation Minister Abdul Aleem Khan, leading the Pakistani delegation at the forum, signed several memoranda of understanding (MoUs) with Russian officials to boost bilateral trade and investment.
Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Ishaq Dar, and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov also met on the sidelines of the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers meeting in Astana, Kazakhstan.
They discussed the growing understanding and cooperation between the two countries and recent regional and global developments.
They agreed to hold the ninth session of the Intergovernmental Commission in Moscow this year.
