Consensus in Pak for strengthening relations with Russian Federation: PM

Sergey Viktorovich Lavrov, Foreign Minister of Russian Federation along with his delegation called on Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf at the PM’s House this afternoon and discussed matters of bilateral interest.
The Prime Minister said that he was happy to note that the both the Pakistani and Russian Foreign Ministers has had good discussion during their meeting today.
The Prime Minister said that over the years there has been good progress in the relationship between Pakistan and Russian Federation, there is consensus in Pakistan that our relations with Russian Federation should be further strengthened, he added.
Russia the Prime Minister said is very important because of its linkages with Europe and Asia.
Referring to a recent visit of high powered Russian Delegation which signed a number of Memorandum of Understandings with Pakistan on energy, railway and steel sector. Prime Minister said that steel mills, a symbol of the friendship of Pakistan and Russia in the 20th century will now serve as a bridge to further intensify the relations between the two countries in the 21st century.
The Prime Minister said that Pakistan and Russia have convergence on many regional and international issues including Afghanistan, Syria and the security council as well as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).
Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf said that Pakistan seeks to increase economic relations and benefit from the expertise of Russian Federation, especially in the energy sector where Russia has experience in mining coal and generation of coal power plants. Similarly Pakistan seeks Russian Federation cooperation in expansion of Pakistan Steel Mills which is important to this government because Prime Minister Shaheed Zufiqar Ali Bhutto had initiated the project, he said.
The Prime Minister expressed the hope that progress will also be made for cooperation between the two countries for improvement of Railways in Pakistan.
The Prime Minister assured the Russian Foreign Minister that his government would extend all possible assistance to the Russian Federation in securing contracts in Pakistan and their execution.
The Prime Minister expressed the hope that both the countries would exchange Parliamentary, business and cultural delegations to further strengthen the relations. In this connection he referred to the visit of Speaker National Assembly Fehmida Mirza to Russia early next year.
The Russian Foreign Minister conveyed the best wishes of President Vladimir Putin for President Asif Ali Zardari.
The Russian Foreign Minister said that the inter governmental commission between the two countries has been working to promote economic cooperation between the two countries. He also said that Russia attaches great importance to consultation with Pakistan and is looking forward to Pakistan’s participation in the next SCO Summit scheduled to be held in Kirghistan.
The Prime Minister asked the Russian Foreign Minister to convey his best wishes to President Vladimir Putin and hoped that his stay during was comfortable.
The meeting was attended by Minister for Water and Power, Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hina Rabbani Khar, Secretary Foreign Affairs and senor officials.