Russia sees potential for expanding economic cooperation with Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Russian Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev highlighted the potential for expanding trade and economic cooperation with Pakistan in a meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said. Kolokoltsev arrived in Pakistan on Monday on a four-day visit at the invitation of Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, marking the first instance of a Russian interior minister visiting Pakistan. According to a statement issued by the PMO, in a meeting with the premier on Wednesday, Kolokoltsev highlighted the “significant potential for expanding bilateral trade and economic cooperation” between the two countries. He conveyed Russia’s desire to further strengthen bilateral ties and expand cooperation in areas of shared interest, while expressing his country’s readiness to further enhance bilateral engagement with Pakistan, the statement said.

The Russian minister also appreciated Pakistan’s support at various multilateral forums, particularly the United Nations. Meanwhile, PM Shehbaz reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to further deepening its friendly relations with Russia and making “effective use of existing bilateral mechanisms to advance mutually beneficial cooperation”, the PMO said. “He underscored the need to expand cooperation across areas of mutual interest, particularly trade and investment, energy, and economic development,” it added. The premier expressed satisfaction over the positive momentum in Pakistan-Russia relations and stressed the importance of building on this momentum to further strengthen bilateral cooperation. Russian minister meets CDF, discusses defence cooperation Kolokoltsev also called on Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and Chief of the Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir at General Headquarters in…