ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Sheh­baz Sharif on Wednesday met Russian President Vladimir Putin, his Tajik counterpart Qohir Rasulzoda and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, seeking to expand bilateral ties, especially economic cooperation, with the three countries.

While PM Shehbaz called President Putin to boost trade ties with Pakistan, he offered the Tajik leader to use Karachi port for the purpose.

During their meeting, President Mirzi­yoyev and PM Shehbaz committed to expand mutually beneficial cooperation in trade, connectivity, defence, security, culture and people-to-people contacts.

The prime minister is on a two-day visit to Astana to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Council, Heads of State (CHS) and SCO Plus summits.

After his meeting with President Putin in Kazakhstan’s capital of Astana, PM Shehbaz said it was heartening that ties between Pakistan and Russia were growing and strengthening through a shared desire and mutual resolve of both countries.

On his X account, he posted, “Had a cordial meeting with President Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation on the sidelines of SCO meeting in Astana today. We exchanged views on bilateral cooperation in multiple areas of mutual interest. We also discussed the regional and international issues.”

In his remarks, Presi-dent Putin mentioned their earlier interaction in Samarkand on the sidelines of SCO summit in which they had discussed the ways to further improve bilateral relations.

He said Pakistan and Russia enjoyed cordial re­­lations which had impro­ved due to the trade linkages.

Mr Putin said both countries could enhance their cooperation in energy and agriculture and expressed his readiness to promote cooperation with Pakistan in the field of food security.

According to the Prime Minister’s Office, the premier called for overcoming financial and banking issues between Pakistan and Russia by renewing and expanding trade under a barter system.

PM Shehbaz recalled how Pakistan and Russia used to have a bilateral trade and a barter system in the 1950s and 1960s.

“I think today is the time we can overcome financial and other banking issues by renewing our trade and expanding our trade under a barter,” PM Shehbaz told President Putin. “That will be very beneficial to Pakistan and we will able to overcome many problems.”

He called for enhancing trade between the two countries, noting it was currently touching $1 billion.

“I would like to work with you closely to further cement our relations,” PM Shehbaz told President Putin. “We have a whole lot to do and we can benefit from your experience.”

The prime minister stressed that diplomatic relations between Pakistan and Russia were based on strength.

“Neither are our relations driven by any geopolitical contingency nor are these impacted by relations with other countries.

“I would like to thank you for this opportunity and would like to assure you on my behalf [and] on behalf of the people of Pakistan that we really want to further strengthen our relations,” he said.