Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Russian President Vladimir Putin met in Beijing on Tuesday, reaffirming their commitment to strengthen Pakistan-Russia relations in trade, energy, defence, and regional connectivity. The meeting came on the sidelines of China’s “Victory Day” events, with both leaders emphasizing the momentum built since their last interaction in Astana during the SCO Summit.
PM Shehbaz praised President Putin’s personal commitment to fostering closer ties, noting that Pakistan’s recent oil imports from Russia had already boosted bilateral trade volumes. He highlighted new agreements in agriculture, steel, energy, and transport, stressing that enhanced collaboration would serve as a catalyst for regional prosperity. The premier also underlined the importance of the emerging trade corridor linking Belarus, Russia, Central Asia, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, calling it a gateway to connectivity and growth.
President Putin echoed the sentiment, describing Pakistan as a “traditional partner in Asia” and stressing the need to expand trade further. Offering condolences for Pakistan’s recent flood disasters, he expressed confidence in Islamabad’s resilience under Shehbaz’s leadership. Putin also extended an invitation to the Prime Minister to attend the SCO Summit in Russia later this year, underscoring Moscow’s desire to deepen engagement with Islamabad.
Keywords: ShehbazSharif VladimirPutin PakistanRussia Trade Energy SCO Meta Description: PM Shehbaz and President Putin meet in Beijing, agreeing to deepen Pakistan-Russia ties in trade, energy, defence, and regional connectivity.
