ISLAMABAD April 15: Pakistan desires to develop friendly, upgraded and expanded relations with the Russian Federation, the Foreign Office spokesman said here on Monday while welcoming the current visit of the Russian parliamentary delegation headed by the chairman of the foreign relations committee of the Duma (Russian parliament).
The spokesman described the visit an “important” outcome of recent exchanges of visits and inter-action between Islamabad and Moscow in recent past. The visiting three-member Russian delegation was led by the Duma’s foreign relations committee chairman Dmitriy O. Rogozin.
Earlier in the day the delegation held a meeting with foreign minister Abdul Sattar and other senior officials, and discussed bilateral and Indo-Pakistan situation including the month-long tension as a result of unprecedented military confrontation on the border. Afghanistan situation was also discussed in the meeting.
A press statement of the ministry of commerce and industry in the afternoon stated that Pakistan and Russia have desired to cooperate in joint ventures in Afghanistan’s reconstruction and rehabilitation work. The Russian government can play a pivotal role in persuading the West to continue helping economically war- torn country so that the infrasturictural development is achieved aiming at facilitating trade and transportation links between Pakistan, Russia and the Central Asian Republics.
The delegation which had held meeting with Federal minister Abdul Razak, expressed the view that trade between the two countries could be substantially improved from its present level of $60 million and suggested possibilites of Russian investment in export of heavy machinery, construction equipment and agricultural products. The delegation is also due to meet President Gen Pervez Musharraf during its stay in Pakistan.—H.A.
ISLAMABAD April 15: Pakistan desires to develop friendly, upgraded and expanded relations with the Russian Federation, the Foreign Office spokesman said here on Monday while welcoming the current visit of the Russian parliamentary delegation headed by the chairman of the foreign relations committee of the Duma (Russian parliament).
