Russia has expressed enthusiasm to increase cooperation with Pakistan in different sectors including the industrial, agricultural, energy, medicine and railways. Ties between Russia and Pakistan have traditionally been luke-warm as Moscow shared extensive relations with Islamabad’s arch for – India.
Russia Asks India To Re-Evaluate Purchase of Anti-Aircraft Guns From South Korea
These positive views were expressed by Russian Trade Minister Denis Valentinovich during the sixth meeting of Pakistan-Russia intergovernmental Commission at the foreign office in Islamabad.
Later addressing a joint news conference along with Hammad Azhar, The Russian Trade Minister said Pakistan Steel Mills was built with the cooperation of Russian experts. He said we will extend cooperation to Pakistan to revive the Steel Mills and enhance its productivity.
He expressed interest in building geological capacity of Pakistan apart from building North-South Gas Pipeline. Valentinovich said Russia wants to collaborate with Pakistan in the aircraft manufacturing sector. He said there are immense opportunities for cooperation in the field of agriculture.
Pakistan Minister for Economic Affairs Hammad Azhar said that Islamabad is keen to reconstruct relations with Russia into a strategic partnership. He said there are enormous opportunities to intensify cooperation in the fields of trade, business to business relations and people to people contacts.
Azhar said Pakistan has been included in the list of top ten countries for Ease of Doing Business. He said due to the government’s judicious policies, Pakistan has reduced trade and current account deficits and consequently, international organizations are recognizing Pakistan’s economic stability.
Why Is China Showing Immense Interest in the TAPI Gas Pipeline?
Lauding the Russian offer to revive Pakistan Steel Mills, he said there is huge scope of cooperation between the two countries in the energy sector. He expressed the hope that work on the North-South gas pipeline. He urged the Russian companies to invest in oil and gas sector of Pakistan.
Azhar said Pakistan also desires to enhance cooperation in establishing economic zones. He said cooperation between Pakistan and Russia in the field of Science and Technology will be helpful for the development of the region.
Both sides resolved to increase the volume of bilateral trade from the present levels to its true potential through greater cooperation and enhanced business activities by the private sector of both the countries.
Indian Operated T-90 Tanks To Become Russian Army’s Main Battle Tank
The Russian side invited Pakistan to organize a roadshow in Moscow to provide an opportunity to the Russian private companies to explore new avenues in Pakistan.
Pakistani side, on the other hand, invited Russia for their presence in trade expos held in Pakistan. The Russian side was apprised that Pakistan holds the bilateral and economic relations with Russia in high esteem which is evident by the recent settlement of the long-standing “Settlement of mutual Financial Claims” between the two countries.
The 7th session of IGC will be held in Moscow on mutually agreed dates.
