Pakistan, Russia to boost trade, energy ties
09 February, 2012
|
| Moscow: Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov (R) shows the way to his Pakistani counterpart Hina Rabbani Khar during their meeting. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
MOSCOW: Pakistan and Russia Wednesday agreed to promote and enhance bilateral relations in diverse fields including trade, energy and people-to-people contacts.
Addressing a joint press conference along with her Russian counterpart, Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar said there was scope for cooperation between the two countries in different areas and all aspects for improving cooperation had been discussed during the meeting of the two foreign ministers.
Foreign Minister Khar is visiting the Russian Federation on the invitation of her Russian counterpart Sergey Viktorovich Lavrov from February 7 to 10. She held in-depth talks with Lavrov on expanding and diversifying Pakistan-Russia relations. The two foreign ministers exchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual interest besides increasing cooperation in energy, infrastructure development, agriculture, science and technology.
Replying to a question on Afghanistan, Khar said Pakistan has a clear policy that it will extend full help and cooperation to any Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan-driven peace initiative as it is the only long lasting solution to the problem. She said Pakistan has repeatedly said there should be a political solution to Afghan problem for durable pace in the region.
The foreign minister said TAPI and KASA 1000 energy projects were also discussed during the meeting. She said Pakistan also got a very encouraging response from Russia for more investment in Pakistan Steel Mills.
She said both countries also agreed to enhance parliamentary interaction besides increasing cooperation at the level of foreign ministries of the two countries. Khar said it was agreed that there would be more interaction between the chambers of commerce and industries of the two countries to improve trade activities. The foreign minister said Russian investors have also shown interest in investing in different energy projects like Thar Coal. Regarding cooperation in the energy sector, she said, "We are looking forward for the energy group which will be meeting within the first half of this year."
Talking about the regional level of cooperation, the foreign minister said the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) was an exceptionally important forum in the region to face and counter regional challenges. She said Pakistan was actively participating in the deliberations of SCO and seeking permanent membership and thanked the Russian Federation extending its support on this issue.
The foreign minister said the next quadrilateral summit being held in Pakistan was also discussed during the meeting with her Russian counterpart and added "Pakistan is looking forward to host this summit." Khair said she had extended invitation to the Russian leadership on behalf of Presiddent Asif Ali Zardari for this quadrilateral summit.
She said the visit of President Zardari and Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani to the Russian Federation and their meetings with Russian leaders had improved bilateral ties and indicated that Pakistan gives importance to its relations with Russia.
Addressing the joint press conference Lavrov said both countries also agreed to cooperate in fighting terrorism and drug crimes. He said, "We have a good future in implementation of major transnational energy projects at the border between the Central Asian and South Asian regions. In our international cooperation we pay special attention to the issues of terrorism and drug crimes."
He said soon, the federal service representative of Russia on the control of drug substances would start working in Islamabad. On the issue of promotion of trade relations, Lavrov said the Pakistani side received Russia's draft of a joint action plan in trade and investments. "We discussed cooperation in the framework of the SCO, the Dushanbe quartet and the UN Security Council, as Pakistan is the Security Council's permanent member for 2012-2013," Lavrov said. He said, "We share approaches to major international problems, principles, on the basis of which it is necessary to settle emerging problems."
End.
|
