PM Sharif meets President Putin on sidelines of SCO summit

ASTANA: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Friday held a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of SCO summit in Kazakhstan.

The two leaders discussed bilateral relations, including trade and economic cooperation, and also current international issues.

The Russian President congratulated Nawaz Sharif on Pakistan’s accession to the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. “I would like to congratulate you once again on Pakistan’s accession to the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation,” Putin told PM Sharif.

Putin said that Russian-Pakistani relations have been constructive and mutually beneficial, and that Pakistan is an important partner for Russia in South Asia.

“Our relations are developing in many areas, and our trade has increased, even if only by a few percentage points,” said Putin expressing hope to increase cooperation with Pakistan.

Putin said that he was glad to have the opportunity to discuss all aspects and of cooperation and its prospects with Pakistan.

PM Sharif thanked the Russian President and said that he was honoured to meet him again after their meeting on the sidelines on SCO Summit 2015 in Ufa, Russia.

He said that Pakistan was grateful to the R Russian Federation for supporting Pakistan’s full membership in the SCO.

However, he said that there has improvement in bilateral trade, but not the level agreed agreed in Ufa. He said that it was his endeavour to build and strengthen the relationship and he would continue to strive for it.