MOSCOW, Russia: The Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi arrived in Russia for a two-day visit on Wednesday on the invitation of his Russian Counterpart Sergei Lavrov.
Upon his arrival at the Domodedovo Airport in Moscow, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Russia Shafqat Ali Khan, the Additional Secretary of the Foreign Office Zahoor Ahmed, and Senior Officials of the Russian Foreign Affairs Ministry welcomed the foreign minister.
In Moscow, Shah Mahmood Qureshi will attend the Meeting of the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers (SCO-CFM) on September 10.
On the sidelines of the SCO-CFM, the Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi will also have bilateral meetings with his Counterparts of various Countries including the Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and the Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
Besides bilateral relations, important regional and global issues will be discussed in those meetings.
Earlier prior to leaving for Moscow, Shah Mahmood Qureshi held a media talk in which he said that the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) is an important platform that provides numerous opportunities for progress, prosperity, and regional connectivity.
Qureshi said that there will be several Countries at the Conference that have a keen interest as well as link with peace and stability in Afghanistan.
The foreign minister said that he will hold meetings with the Foreign Ministers of SCO Member Countries on the sidelines of the Conference.
Shah Mahmood Qureshi said that his meeting with the Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has also been scheduled. He said that there are bright chances of promotion of bilateral relations with Russia in days to come.
The minister said that Pakistan looks forward for a long-term multi-dimensional partnership with Russia.
Shah Mahmood Qureshi said that Russia has an interest in the 1100-kilometer North-South gas pipeline project which can benefit Pakistan.
The foreign minister said that the project has been delayed since 2015; however, he added that during his talks with Sergei Lavrov, it will be discussed and some progress may also take place.
