Prime Minister Imran Khan meets Russian President Vladimir Putin
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| Prime Minister Imran Khan meets Russian President Vladimir Putin |
Prime Minister Imran Khan and Russian President Vladimir Putin had a bilateral meeting
P(caps)rime Minister Imran Khan and
Russian President Vladimir Putin held a bilateral meeting to discuss bilateral
issues including energy and regional development agenda.
A joint statement issued during a meeting between Prime Minister Imran Khan and Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Prime Minister's Office said that the two leaders discussed regional and international issues of mutual interest, including bilateral relations.
Reiterating the telephone conversation between the two leaders in recent months, the Prime Minister expressed confidence that the positive trend in bilateral relations would continue in the future as well.
Before to the meeting, Federal Minister for Information Fawad Chaudhry had said on social networking site Twitter that Prime Minister Imran Khan had left the hotel to meet Russian President Putin.
وزیر اعظم عمران خان روسی صدر پوٹن سے ملاقات کیلئے ہوٹل سے روانہ ہو گئے ہیں
— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) February 24, 2022
A statement from the Prime Minister's Office said, "The Prime Minister also highlighted Pakistan's commitment to a long-term and multi-faceted relationship with Russia."
During the meeting, the Prime Minister also stressed the need to end the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan and avoid economic turmoil in the war-torn country.
The statement said "The Prime Minister reiterated that Pakistan will continue to work with the international community for a stable, peaceful and connected Afghanistan”.
Referring to South Asia, Prime Minister Imran Khan also highlighted the human rights violations committed by India in Occupied Jammu and Kashmir and the need for a peaceful solution to the problem.
The Prime Minister expressed concern over the growing extremism and Islamophobia in the country and stressed the need for interfaith harmony and co-operation.
After meeting with Putin, Prime Minister Imran Khan was met by a delegation led by Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak and Energy Minister Nikolai Shelginov.
Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Valentinovich Novak and Minister of Energy of the Russian Federation Mr. Nikolay Shulginov calls on Prime Minister @ImranKhanPTI along with delegation#PMIKInRussia pic.twitter.com/aosvW2zrTV
— Prime Minister's Office, Pakistan (@PakPMO) February 24, 2022
After meeting with Putin, Prime Minister Imran Khan was met by a delegation led by Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak and Energy Minister Nikolai Shelginov.
Accompanying the Prime Minister in the delegation are Federal Ministers Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Fawad Chaudhry, Asad Umar, Hamad Azhar, Trade Adviser Abdul Razzaq Dawood, National Security Adviser Moeed Yousuf and Member National Assembly Amir Mahmood Kayani.
This is the first bilateral visit of any Pakistani Prime Minister to Russia after a gap of 23 years and is being hailed as a historic step in renewing relations between the two countries.
It may be recalled that the last Pakistani Prime Minister to visit Russia was Nawaz Sharif who visited Russia in 1999 while former President Asif Ali Zardari also visited Moscow in 2011.