ASTANA: Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday held a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Astana. The two leaders discussed bilateral ties and matters of mutual interest during the meeting.
PM Shehbaz emphasized the need to overcome financial and other banking issues to expand barter trade between Pakistan and Russia, Radio Pakistan reported. He said Pakistan has long business relations with Russia. He recalled that Pakistan used to import a lot of machinery and goods from erstwhile Soviet Russia and export textile and leather goods under barter.
PM Shehbaz further said the two countries can certainly enhance trade, which is at the moment, touching one billion dollars. He also commended President Putin for promoting cooperation in the field of energy at his request. He added Pakistan has received a shipment of oil from Russia and there is a need to further move in this direction.
The Prime Minister said that bilateral relations between Pakistan and Russia have been on a positive trajectory over the last many years and this is a matter of great comfort for the two countries. He said our relations stand on our own strength as neither our relations are driven by any geopolitical contingency nor are impacted by our ties with other countries.
PM Shehbaz, on the occasion, also expressed the desire to work closely with President Vladimir Putin to further cement bilateral relations.
The Prime Minister is currently in Kazakhstan’s capital Astana to attend the twin Summits of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of State and SCO Plus.
Earlier, Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Astana after visiting Dushanbe. At the SCO Council of Heads of Summit Meeting, Shehbaz Sharif will share Pakistan’s perspective on key regional and global issues and underline the importance Pakistan accords to regional connectivity and cooperation with SCO member nations.
Shehbaz Sharif will also address the SCO Plus Summit and highlight the nation’s position on significant regional and global issues. The PM will hold meetings with participating leaders on the sidelines of the Summit.
According to media reports, the Prime Minister will meet today with Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. Media reports added that there will be a round of trilateral talks between Pakistan, Azerbaijan and Turkiye which is likely to be attended by PM Shehbaz Sharif. The PM will also attend a dinner hosted by the President of Kazakhstan in honor of the heads of the member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
Earlier, PM Shehbaz on Tuesday called for further enhancing trade, investment and connectivity between Pakistan and Tajikistan.
Addressing a joint news conference, along with Tajik President Emomali Rahmon in Dushanbe, PM Shehbaz emphasized further enhancing cooperation in diverse fields, including agriculture, education, health and trade.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that today several Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were signed between the two countries. He said that these MoUs would be helpful in furthering bilateral relations.
PM Shehbaz said strategic partnership agreement is of great importance. He congratulated the Tajik side for joining hands to sign this agreement which will further brotherly relations and expand avenues of cooperation in times to come.
The Prime Minister also stressed the need for building rail connectivity between Tajikistan, and Afghanistan all the way to the port of Karachi.
As regards, bilateral cooperation, the Prime Minister said CASA1000 is likely to be completed next year. This will bring prosperity to the region.
The Prime Minister further said that he held a one-on-one meeting with the Tajik President, who talked of the China-Tajikistan and Afghanistan corridor.
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif held a warm and cordial meeting with President of Russian Federation Vladimir V. Putin on the sidelines of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Council of Head of States meeting in Astana today.
The two leaders had a wide ranging… pic.twitter.com/QLsJvHwaI5
— Prime Minister's Office (@PakPMO) July 3, 2024
