A week after Pakistan and Russia signed an agreement on the supply of Russian crude oil and oil products, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Monday that his country would “cooperate fully” to meet the energy needs of Pakistan.
\nSpeaking at a joint press conference with his Pakistani counterpart, the Russian FM commended Pakistan for maintaining a neutral position in the Russian-Ukraine war and said that the two countries would continue to cooperate in various fields.
\nOn January 28, the Foreign Office announced that Minister of Foreign Affairs Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari had been invited to Moscow by his Russian counterpart to \u201chold official talks with his Russian counterpart where the two sides would deliberate upon the entire spectrum of bilateral relations and exchange views on regional and international issues of mutual interest.\u201d
\nDuring the joint press conference after the talks on Monday, the two ministers said that the countries would continue to cooperate and work together.
\nSpeaking at the conference, FM Bilawal said that the two had a \u201cfruitful\u201d discussion regarding the energy sector, stressing that both countries wanted to enhance bilateral relations.
\nHe also underscored the devastation caused to Pakistan\u2019s economy and infrastructure by recent floods that affected millions of people in the country, adding \u201crelations between Pakistan and Russia are important for bilateral and regional stability\u201d.
\n\u201cPakistan attaches great importance to relations with Russia and wants to further promote relations with Russia,\u201d Bilawal said, adding that the talks had proved fruitful and the nations would continue to talk on matters in all fields \u201cin a friendly atmosphere\u201d.
\nMoreover, his Russian counterpart too asserted that the cooperation between the two countries in various fields would continue and that Russia would \u201ccooperate fully\u201d to meet Pakistan\u2019s energy needs.
\nHe congratulated both states on the successful completion of the 8th inter-governmental meeting, which ended on January 20 and during which Russia and Pakistan agreed on late March as the timeline for crude oil export.
\nThe two foreign ministers also discussed regional and international developments. Bilawal said that Pakistan wanted a peaceful solution to the Ukrainian conflict, while the Russian FM said that Pakistan\u2019s neutral position regarding the matter was commendable.
\nThe Russian FM also said, \u201cPakistan and Russia hold a common stance on a number of issues on international forums.
\n\u201cThe two countries also have the same position regarding cooperation in Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO),\u201d adding that Russia would continue to support Pakistan\u2019s efforts to establish peace in Afghanistan.
\nThe visit is significant because even when the Russians have their hands full with Ukraine, they still extended this invitation, a sign of warming relations and a chance to discuss further the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan.
\nOn January 20, Islamabad and Moscow \u2014 after the conclusion of the annual inter-governmental commission \u2014 agreed on late March as the timeline for crude oil export.
\nThis is a major development for Pakistan as the country is facing a severe economic crisis.
\nState Minister for Petroleum Musadik Malik revealed that “Pakistan wants to import 35% of its total crude oil” requirement from Russia.
\nMeanwhile, Russia’s Energy Minister Nikolay Shulginov also said that Pakistan would pay for energy purchases from Russia, when they start in late March, in currencies of friendly countries.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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