Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Calls for Enhanced Trade Relations with Russia
During a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif emphasized the need to overcome financial and banking issues between Pakistan and Russia through a renewed barter system. He highlighted the historical bilateral trade and barter system between the two countries in the 1950s and 1960s and proposed expanding trade under a barter agreement to benefit both nations.
PM Shehbaz expressed satisfaction with the positive trajectory of Pakistan-Russia relations and called for closer cooperation in various sectors, including power, agriculture, and food security. Both leaders agreed to convene a Pakistan-Russia intergovernmental cooperation meeting in Moscow and discussed the possibility of President Putin visiting Pakistan in the near future.
Additionally, PM Shehbaz arrived in Kazakhstan’s capital to attend SCO summits, where he will highlight Pakistan’s commitment to regional connectivity and cooperation with SCO member countries. He is also scheduled to meet with Uzbekistan’s President and participate in trilateral talks with Turkiye and Azerbaijan.