ISLAMABAD, April 13: Russian Prime Minister Mikhail E. Fradkov during a meeting with President General Pervez Musharraf on Friday conveyed to him that Pakistan had an important place in Russia’s foreign policy and his country deeply appreciated Islamabad’s endeavors towards peace, amity and prosperity in the region.

Mr Fradkov also handed him a message from Russian President Putin. According to sources privy to the meeting, it was a “goodwill” message but its contents were not known immediately.

The meeting went on for about one hour at the president’s camp office in Rawalpindi and it was followed by lunch.

Both the leaders shared the sentiments about opening a new chapter in Pakistan-Russia relations and discussed ways of consolidating bilateral ties.

“The president underlined that vast opportunities existed for collaboration between the two countries in diverse sectors such as oil and gas, railways, water and power, promotion of trade and defence sales,” said a statement issued by the Foreign Office.

The two leaders exchanged views on important regional and global issues, it said.—Q.A.