Moscow, 30 January 2023 (TDI): The Foreign Minister of Pakistan, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari held an official meeting with the Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation, Sergey Lavrov in Moscow, on Monday.
Notably, Bilawal is undertaking an official visit to Moscow from 29-30 January. He is visiting at the invitation of Sergey Lavrov. The Foreign Minister arrived at Moscow airport on Sunday.
He was received by senior officials of the Russian Foreign Ministry & Pakistan’s Ambassador to Russia, Shafqat Ali Khan, and officials of the Embassy.
Bilawal’s first visit to Moscow is taking place when the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan has increased its attacks inside Pakistan. Moreover, Pakistan is in talks with Russia about importing oil as the South Asian country seeks ways to meet its energy demands.
Joint conference with Russian Foreign Minister
Bilawal addressed a joint news conference, along with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov. Both officials discussed the full range of bilateral relations and exchanged perspectives on issues of mutual interest.
They also deliberated on the situation in Afghanistan. During the conference, Bilawal said that Pakistan intends to intensify cooperation with Russia in areas of trade, economy, security & counter-terrorism, as well as cultural, educational, and people-to-people contacts.
Bilawal also appreciated the growing Pak-Russia friendship. In this vein, he added, “Strengthening relations with Russia remains an important priority for us.
Pak-Russia relations not only serve national interests but also contribute to regional stability and security.” He also discussed the prospects of peace in Afghanistan.
Also read: Foreign Minister of Pakistan to visit Moscow from 29-30 January
Along these lines, Bilawal reiterated, “Pakistan and Russia have good cooperation in Afghanistan. We aim to continue cooperation with Russia in realizing common goals of peace and stability in Afghanistan.”
“Pakistan has a firm belief that all conflicts can be resolved peacefully and there are no obstacles, which diplomacy cannot surmount and the Ukrainian conflict is no exception,” Bilawal said while noting the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
He highlighted how developing countries like Pakistan face negative consequences in terms of the economic impact of this conflict.
“The confidence that the strong tradition of diplomacy of the Russian state will help achieve a peaceful resolution of the conflict,” Bilawal stressed.
The Foreign Minister also thanked Sergey Lavrov for inviting him to visit Russia and reiterated Islamabad’s commitment to deepening relations with Moscow.
On his part, Lavrov said Russia is committed to promoting bilateral cooperation with Pakistan in diverse fields including economy, trade, and defense. He also termed the relationship between the two countries mutually beneficial and constructive.
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