ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi received the Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov at the Foreign Office in Islamabad on Wednesday where they had wide-ranging talks covering bilateral relations and regional and global issues.
Extending a warm welcome, Foreign Minister Qureshi recalled his earlier meeting with Foreign Minister Lavrov on the sidelines of SCO Council of Ministers in Moscow in September 2020.
The foreign minister underlined that strengthening of relations with the Russian Federation was an important foreign policy priority for Pakistan and that Pakistan-Russia relations, today, were marked by enhanced mutual trust and understanding.
Pleased to welcome Foreign Minister #SergeyLavrov to the Foreign Office today for excellent meetings. Building multi-dimensional relations with Russia is a key priority for Pakistan and we believe a strong relationship contributes to regional stability and global security. pic.twitter.com/3mX6nKT6YT
— Shah Mahmood Qureshi (@SMQureshiPTI) April 7, 2021
During our talks we considered ideas to further promote #EconomicDiplomacy and discussed progress in the area of energy cooperation including the Pakistan-Stream Gas Pipeline project. We reviewed our cooperation in the field of security including counter-terrorism and defence. pic.twitter.com/Y9kbeo0iPb
— Shah Mahmood Qureshi (@SMQureshiPTI) April 7, 2021
FM #Lavrov and I agreed on the need to promote greater people-to-people contact through greater collaboration across a diversity of fields, including education. We will also be enhancing our cooperation within the framework of Shanghai Cooperation Organization. https://t.co/mXl2Fdzh8C
— Shah Mahmood Qureshi (@SMQureshiPTI) April 7, 2021
Noting the important progress achieved in bilateral relations, the foreign minister agreed on the need to intensify efforts to deepen cooperation in all areas, including economy and trade, energy, counter-terrorism, security and defence, education, and people-to-people exchanges.
The foreign minister added that the next meeting of the Inter-Governmental Commission (IGC) would cover a wide agenda encompassing economic, trade, and energy cooperation between the two countries and must be result-oriented.
Qureshi also reiterated Pakistan’s resolve to work with Russia for the early commencement of the ‘Pakistan Stream’ Gas Pipeline project.
The Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi congratulated Russia on developing the COVID-19 vaccine and highlighted Pakistan’s plans to acquire more Sputnik-V as well as to have a joint venture for the production of the vaccine in Pakistan.
The foreign minister briefed his Russian Counterpart on Pakistan’s priorities relating to peace and stability in Afghanistan centered on an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process. He appreciated Russia’s role in the Afghan peace process including through convening of the meeting of Extended Troika in Moscow in March 2021.
Qureshi dilated on the human rights situation in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) and underlined Pakistan’s approach to the issues of peace and security in South Asia and peaceful resolution of the Jammu & Kashmir dispute.
The foreign minister noted with appreciation the close cooperation between Pakistan and Russia within the United Nations and at other multilateral fora including the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). Matters relating to Security Council reform were also discussed.
There were detailed exchanges on matters relating to South Asia, West Asia, the Gulf region, the Middle East, and the Asia-Pacific.
The two foreign ministers also discussed the potential of the Euroasian Economic Union (EEU) and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
The Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi stressed that Pakistan remained committed to forge a closer, multi-dimensional relationship with Russia — marked by trust and understanding.
Qureshi added that the Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s latest visit would help commence a new chapter in this direction.
