Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Beijing, where both leaders expressed their commitment to enhancing Pakistan-Russia bilateral relations. President Putin also expressed sorrow over the recent flood-related damages in Pakistan.
The meeting took place in Beijing following the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit in Tianjin. Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir were also present.
During the meeting, President Putin noted that Russia has excellent relations with Pakistan and acknowledged the country is currently facing natural disasters.
He expressed condolences over the flood damages in Pakistan and reaffirmed Russia’s desire to strengthen ties with Pakistan.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that Pakistan-Russia relations are growing stronger over time, adding that Pakistan desires peace, development, and prosperity in the region.
Emphasizing Pakistan’s willingness to deepen ties, Shehbaz said, “We want to enhance our relationship with Russia.”
During the meeting, President Putin invited Shehbaz Sharif to participate in the upcoming SCO Summit in Moscow.
Earlier, at the SCO Summit in Tianjin, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met with several world leaders.
Shehbaz held informal meetings with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.
At the same summit, the prime minister also had informal meetings with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the President of Tajikistan, and held key discussions with the Presidents of Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, and the Maldives.
