ISLAMABAD, Nov 15: Pakistan and Russia are earnestly exploring the prospects of bolstering bilateral cooperation through collaboration in diverse areas, including energy, power, railways, telecommunications and IT, according to diplomatic sources.

This will be high on the agenda when Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov holds formal talks with his Pakistani counterpart Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri and meets the president and the prime minister here on Thursday.

Russia, which is one of the world’s leading energy producers, has offered electricity to Pakistan besides collaboration in oil exploration and transportation projects. It is keen to join Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline project like China. The Russian Gazprom, the world’s largest gas company, has expressed interest in the project.