The potential of economic cooperation between Pakistan and Russia was ‘much higher and much bigger’, Russian President Vladimir Putin told caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar on Tuesday.
“Our potential of economic cooperation is much higher, much bigger and we are going to discuss that,” he said during a meeting with Pakistan’s interim premier on the sidelines of the third Belt and Road Forum in Beijing.
Both the heads of state are in China to attend the two-day event which kicked off on Tuesday. Earlier in the day they attended a state banquet hosted by Chinese President Xi Jinping for the world leaders.
Meeting with Russian President @KremlinRussia_E https://t.co/1IPCAg2iCA
— Anwaar ul Haq Kakar (@anwaar_kakar) October 17, 2023
“We have our colleagues here. I hope we will be able to listen to your colleagues and we will share our visions on how, what additional steps could be taken to enhance our cooperation in all the areas,” Putin said.
In the meeting the caretaker PM, the Russian president stated that the focus of the joint intention was to ensure regional security and stability. He highlighted that Moscow was traditionally a supplier of food, including cereals, and the trade with Islamabad has increased and “achieved good levels”.
“This year it was one million tons of cereals that were supplied to your country [Pakistan],” Putin said.
Caretaker PM Kakar stated that Pakistan was determined to boost ties with Russia in various fields., saying that Pakistan was energy deficient country and a population of almost 240 million people was a huge market.
He mentioned that the energy minister attended an energy week in Russia with “very fruitful and constructive engagement from your side and the team has come for some concrete proposals be it with the supply of oil, or gas”.
The government was thinking of some “creative options” to explore new avenues, he said, and added that Pakistan welcomed Russian investors in the energy sector.
“We are determined to increase relations with Russia in various fields,” he stated.
