Beijing (TDI): Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Beijing on Tuesday, reaffirming Pakistan’s resolve to expand cooperation with Russia across multiple sectors.
The two leaders recalled their last meeting in Astana in 2024, expressing satisfaction with the positive momentum in relations over the past year. Both sides acknowledged that today’s partnership rests on mutual trust, respect, and cordiality.
Prime Minister Sharif underlined Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening ties with Russia, highlighting potential areas of collaboration including trade, energy, agriculture, investment, defense, artificial intelligence, education, and cultural exchanges.
He added that Pakistan and Russia share similar perspectives on many global forums. The premier also called for activating institutional mechanisms and stressed the importance of flagship initiatives such as the proposed Pakistan Steel Mill project in Karachi and connectivity investments as enduring symbols of friendship.
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President Putin welcomed the Prime Minister’s views, noting the upward trajectory of bilateral relations. He emphasized Russia’s interest in enhancing cooperation not only in bilateral spheres but also in multilateral platforms like the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), which he said plays a vital role in regional and global security.
The two leaders also reviewed regional and international developments, including the situation in South Asia, Afghanistan, the Middle East, and the Ukraine conflict. They exchanged views on cooperation in multilateral organizations and reaffirmed their support for long-standing global issues such as Palestine and Kashmir.
Concluding the meeting, President Putin extended a warm invitation to Prime Minister Sharif to pay an official visit to Russia.
The meeting in Beijing comes against the backdrop of growing global realignments, where Pakistan has sought to diversify its partnerships and enhance ties with major powers, including Russia. Observers note that Islamabad’s outreach to Moscow reflects a broader strategy to expand trade, energy, and connectivity options beyond traditional partners.
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For Russia, closer engagement with Pakistan is seen as an opportunity to deepen its footprint in South Asia, particularly in the areas of energy cooperation and regional security. Both countries have also shown convergence on multilateral platforms like the SCO, where collaboration can reinforce their shared vision of stability and inclusive development.
Sohail Majeed
Sohail Majeed is a Special Correspondent at The Diplomatic Insight. He has twelve plus years of experience in journalism & reporting. He covers International Affairs, Diplomacy, UN, Sports, Climate Change, Economy, Technology, and Health.
