ISLAMABAD: During a delegation level talk held here today (7th April, 2021) Russian FM Sergey Lavrov has reaffirmed the commitment to promote bilateral cooperation with Pakistan in diverse fields including economy, trade and defense.
“Pleased to welcome Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to the Foreign Office today for excellent meetings. Building multi-dimensional relations with Russia is a key priority for Pakistan and we believe a strong relationship contributes to regional stability and global security,” FM Qureshi stated.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs Tweeted: “Foreign Minister of Russia, Sergey Lavrov was warmly welcomed by Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi at the Foreign Office today. Later FM of Russia also planted a Pine tree at the FO Lawn.”
Taking to the Twitter FM Shah Mehmood Qureshi (who is leading the Pakistani side) maintained: “We are confident that this visit will give further momentum to our deepening friendship and we remain committed to expanding our relations in diverse areas through further high-level contacts.”
“FM Lavrov and I agreed on the need to promote greater people-to-people contact through greater collaboration across a diversity of fields, including education. We will also be enhancing our cooperation within the framework of Shanghai Cooperation Organization…
“During our talks we considered ideas to further promote Economic Diplomacy and discussed progress in the area of energy cooperation including the Pakistan-Stream Gas Pipeline project. We reviewed our cooperation in the field of security including counter-terrorism and defense,” Pakistani FM told.
“Pakistan and Russia share convergent positions on several issues on multilateral agenda including peace & stability in Afghanistan. Shared with Foreign Minister Lavrov our perspective on larger questions of peace & security in South Asia and worsening human right situation in Illegally Occupied Jammu & Kashmir,” Pakistani FM further said.
Sergey Lavrov stated: “We stand ready to strengthen the anti-terrorist potential of Pakistan, including by supplying Pakistan with special military equipment.”
Qureshi pointed out that Pakistan had shifted its priorities from geo-politics to geo-economics. FM also informed that Pakistan was extending facilities to foreign entrepreneurs including that of e-visa.
Shah Mehmood Qureshi stated that Pakistan was keen to augment its terms with Russia in diverse fields. Focusing on Russian partnership he Pakistan’s commitment for early commencement of work on Stream Gas Pipeline project with the Russian partnership.
Pakistan and Russia agreed to hold the next meeting of intergovernmental commission at the earliest facilitating the promotion of economic relations. Shah Mahmood Qureshi also briefed his Russian counterpart about the situation in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir and the regional security situation.
Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi stressed that Pakistan wanted peace in the region and resolution of all outstanding disputes including Jammu and Kashmir through peaceful means: “Pakistan will continue its sincere efforts for peace in Afghanistan”, he added.
Meanwhile, a Russian delegation on 6th April agreed in Karachi to submit proposals for the modernization of Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM).
The government of St Petersburg’s delegation, led by its adviser Andrey Zubal, called on Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah and discussed various projects.
The delegation members included Rus Welding, Consul General of Russia in Karachi Dr Aleksandr G. Khozin, Ahmed Rana of Concord Ventures (Pvt) Ltd, Attaché, Russian Consulate Pavel Yamanov.
The Russian delegation showed interest in working with the Sindh government on Public-Private Partnership (PPP) mode in various sectors including hydro-treatment facilities, waste processing and waste-to-energy.
Referring to PSM, CM Shah said the Russian government had constructed the enormous project in Karachi: “Now, the mill not only needs to be overhauled but also has to be modernized to meet current steel production requirements.”
The visiting delegation decided to send a team to visit the mill to assess the requirements for its modernization.
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