Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met the Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the SCO summit in China. In a meeting, Pakistan expressed its keenness to strengthen its bilateral relations with Russia in the energy trade and other key sectors.
The meeting took place on the sidelines of the meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Council of Heads of State, which was attended by Putin and Sharif, among more than a dozen other leaders. Pakistan and Russia, once Cold War rivals, have strengthened ties in recent years through increased dialogue and trade.
In 2023, Islamabad began purchasing discounted Russian crude oil banned from European markets due to Russia’s war in Ukraine, and also received its first shipment of liquefied petroleum gas from Moscow. Speaking at the meeting televised from Beijing, Sharif said the existing cooperation between the two countries showed their commitment, and he believed that they were heading in the right direction. In a meeting, Shahbaz Sharif said that Pakistan acknowledges Russia’s deep ties with India; however, they are also keen to develop the same relations.
“We have signed protocols in terms of how to promote our cooperation in the field of agriculture, in the field of iron and steel, energy, transport, corridor from Belarus and then [to] Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan [and to] Pakistan. I think this is a very important corridor,” he told Putin.
“I have been very keen to strengthen our bilateral relations. I think we are in the right direction.”
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President Putin said they cherish Pakistan as their traditional partner in Asia. He extended an invitation to PM Sharif for an SCO meeting in Russia in November.
“Distinguished Prime Minister, Excellency, in November, Russia is planning an event within the framework of the SCO. It’s going to be the meeting of the heads of government. If you have the time, if you think it is possible, we will be very glad to have you in Moscow.”
Sharif thanked Putin for the invite, saying he would be glad to visit Moscow.