AP, UFA :
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said on Friday that Pakistan attached great importance to its ties with the Russian Federation and was keen to enhance bilateral relations.
“We want a multi-dimensional relationship with Russia in the fields of trade, defence, energy, infrastructure, culture and other spheres,” the prime minister said in a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the SCO Summit.
This was the first ever meeting between Nawaz and President Putin.
“We are grateful to the Russian Federation for its support to Pakistan’s entry into Shanghai Cooperation Organisation as a full member,” the premier remarked.
Both delegations expressed confidence that the Sharif-Putin meeting would help raise the level of friendship and cooperation between the two countries.
President Putin congratulated Nawaz Sharif on Pakistan’s formal accession to the SCO.
He said Russia attached importance to its relations with Pakistan and would like to further enhance them, particularly in the economic domain.
Both leaders reviewed progress on a number of projects under consideration, especially in the energy sector.
They expressed satisfaction on the progress being made in finalising the North-South gas pipeline agreement and decided to expedite the process.
Earlier, President Putin announced that Pakistan and India will join the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) as permanent members, a group dominated by Russia and China which also includes former Soviet republics in Central Asia.
Russia sees the organisation, expanding for the first time since its creation in 2001, as a counterweight to Western alliances.
Putin opened the annual summit by announcing the acceptance of Pakistan and India as members. He said Belarus would obtain observer status, joining Afghanistan, Iran and Mongolia, while Azerbaijan, Armenia, Cambodia and Nepal would be welcomed as “dialogue partners.”
The SCO leaders expressed hope that Iran also would soon become a member, but said Tehran first needed to reach an international agreement on curbing its nuclear programme.
Putin said some of the greatest security threats facing the region emanated from Afghanistan, noting the increased activity of the self-styled Islamic State group. He said the leaders agreed to strengthen counter-terrorism cooperation and to work together to fight drug trafficking from Afghanistan.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said on Friday that Pakistan attached great importance to its ties with the Russian Federation and was keen to enhance bilateral relations.
“We want a multi-dimensional relationship with Russia in the fields of trade, defence, energy, infrastructure, culture and other spheres,” the prime minister said in a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the SCO Summit.
This was the first ever meeting between Nawaz and President Putin.
“We are grateful to the Russian Federation for its support to Pakistan’s entry into Shanghai Cooperation Organisation as a full member,” the premier remarked.
Both delegations expressed confidence that the Sharif-Putin meeting would help raise the level of friendship and cooperation between the two countries.
President Putin congratulated Nawaz Sharif on Pakistan’s formal accession to the SCO.
He said Russia attached importance to its relations with Pakistan and would like to further enhance them, particularly in the economic domain.
Both leaders reviewed progress on a number of projects under consideration, especially in the energy sector.
They expressed satisfaction on the progress being made in finalising the North-South gas pipeline agreement and decided to expedite the process.
Earlier, President Putin announced that Pakistan and India will join the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) as permanent members, a group dominated by Russia and China which also includes former Soviet republics in Central Asia.
Russia sees the organisation, expanding for the first time since its creation in 2001, as a counterweight to Western alliances.
Putin opened the annual summit by announcing the acceptance of Pakistan and India as members. He said Belarus would obtain observer status, joining Afghanistan, Iran and Mongolia, while Azerbaijan, Armenia, Cambodia and Nepal would be welcomed as “dialogue partners.”
The SCO leaders expressed hope that Iran also would soon become a member, but said Tehran first needed to reach an international agreement on curbing its nuclear programme.
Putin said some of the greatest security threats facing the region emanated from Afghanistan, noting the increased activity of the self-styled Islamic State group. He said the leaders agreed to strengthen counter-terrorism cooperation and to work together to fight drug trafficking from Afghanistan.
