PM Shehbaz, President Putin Vow to Strengthen Pakistan-Russia Bilateral Cooperation

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and Russian President Vladimir Putin have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral relations and expanding cooperation across diverse sectors, including trade, energy, and defence. The two leaders met on the sidelines of a high-level summit in Beijing, China, where they discussed ways to bolster ties and enhance regional connectivity. During the meeting, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif lauded President Putin’s leadership and his efforts to promote closer relations with Pakistan. Reflecting on their previous meeting at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit in Astana last year, the prime minister noted the progress made in bilateral cooperation since then. “Relations between the two countries have improved significantly in recent years due to your personal commitment and interest,” PM Shehbaz told the Russian president. He expressed confidence that both nations would continue to work together to strengthen ties, particularly in commerce and trade. The prime minister highlighted the surge in Pak-Russia trade over the past year, driven by Pakistan’s import of Russian oil, which significantly increased the trade volume. He also emphasized the importance of recent high-level delegations and agreements in agriculture, iron, steel, energy, and transport, which have laid the groundwork for deeper collaboration. PM Shehbaz underscored the potential of a regional trade corridor connecting Belarus, Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, describing it as a vital initiative for enhancing regional connectivity and prosperity. Acknowledging Russia’s ties with India, the prime minister stressed Pakistan’s desire to build strong, complementary relations with Russia. “These beneficial ties will contribute to the progress and prosperity of the region,” he said, adding that he looked forward to working closely with President Putin, whom he described as “a dynamic leader.” President Vladimir Putin echoed the prime minister’s sentiments, describing Pakistan as a “traditional partner” in Asia. He emphasized the need to enhance bilateral trade and called for concrete steps to address existing challenges. The Russian president also expressed his condolences to the people of Pakistan for the losses suffered due to recent natural disasters, including devastating floods. He voiced optimism that Pakistan, under PM Shehbaz’s leadership, would overcome these challenges. President Putin highlighted ongoing cooperation between the two countries at inter-parliamentary levels and within the framework of the United Nations, where Pakistan serves as a non-permanent member of the Security Council. President Putin extended an invitation to PM Shehbaz to attend the SCO Heads of Government Summit in Russia this November. The prime minister accepted the invitation, expressing his eagerness to visit Russia and further strengthen bilateral ties. The meeting concluded with both leaders reaffirming their commitment to deepening cooperation and fostering regional stability and prosperity. Members of the delegations from both countries were also present during the discussions.