Beijing, China, October 17, 2023 – Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar of Pakistan met with the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, on Tuesday. During their meeting held on the sidelines of the Third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, the two leaders discussed and reviewed bilateral cooperation, with a special focus on trade, investment, and energy.
The leaders expressed satisfaction with the steady expansion of Pakistan-Russia relations and emphasized the need for enhanced cooperation in various fields. They discussed the prospects of enhancing Eurasian connectivity and Pakistan’s vital role in regional integration through rail, road, and energy corridors.
Prime Minister Kakar highlighted the need for enhanced regional integration to support the economic development of the entire region. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to further expand and strengthen bilateral cooperation with Russia in areas such as trade, investment, energy, connectivity, and counterterrorism. The leaders also exchanged views on regional and global developments, including the evolving situation in the Middle East.
Prime Minister Kakar noted that Pakistan and Russia share common interests in addressing the issue of terrorism and called for enhanced cooperation and a common approach among neighboring countries, particularly in relation to Afghanistan. He emphasized that neighboring countries should take the initiative and cooperate in the fields of intelligence, defense, and counterterrorism.
Regarding energy cooperation, Prime Minister Kakar mentioned that Pakistan, with its 240 million population, is an energy-deficient country. He mentioned a recent event where Pakistan’s energy minister engaged with the Russian team and received concrete proposals for enhancing energy cooperation.
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In his remarks, Russian President Vladimir Putin noted that Pakistan and Russia are celebrating the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations this year. He highlighted the friendly bilateral relations between the two countries and the significant potential for cooperation. President Putin mentioned that trade relations have been on the rise, with Russia supplying around a million tons of cereals to Pakistan this year.
Both leaders expressed optimism about strengthening cooperation and expanding their partnership in various areas, fostering greater ties between the two nations.
