By Asghar Ali Mubarak
ISLAMABAD: The Russian Federation has expressed the desire to enhance cooperation with Pakistan in the energy sector.
It was expressed by a six-member delegation led by Russian First Deputy Minister of Energy Pavel Sorokin who called on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad on Friday. Speaking on the occasion, the prime minister said Pakistan also wanted to strengthen its relations with Russia. He said Pakistan is eager to further increase its coordination with the Russian Federation in diplomacy, trade and investment fields.
Shehbaz Sharif recalled that his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, on the sidelines of Shanghai Cooperation Organization in Astana, remained productive. He also reiterated his invitation to Russian President to visit Pakistan.
The prime minister said Pakistan and Russia have immense potential for cooperation in the energy sector and other fields. The Russian First Deputy Minister of Energy thanked the Government of Pakistan for the excellent hospitality accorded to him and his delegation.
Earlier, Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday said that Pakistan was keen to expand trade, economic, energy, connectivity and security cooperation with Russia.
The prime minister, talking to Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk, who called on him here, conveyed that Pakistan considered strengthening relations with Russia as an important priority of Pakistan’s foreign policy, according to a PM Office press release.
Welcoming the delegation, the prime minister said that he looked forward to welcoming his Russian counterpart Mikhail Mishustin to Islamabad next month.
Recalling his “very fruitful” discussion with President Vladimir Putin in July earlier this year and conveyed his thanks to President Putin for sending the high-level delegation to discuss expansion of bilateral cooperation.
DPM Overchuk thanked the PM for the warm welcome and reiterated Russia’s resolve to deepen relations with Pakistan. He characterized Pakistan-Russia relations as constructive and mutually beneficial.
The two sides agreed to maintain regular contacts.
The prime minister also witnessed signing of an MoU between Russia and Pakistan, which signifies the shared understanding and desire of the two countries to further strengthen mutually advantageous cooperation in all areas of shared interest, especially trade, investment, energy, IT, agriculture, science & technology and education.
