Beijing, China – September 2, 2025 — Prime Minister of Pakistan, Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, met with President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, on the sidelines of a multilateral gathering in Beijing today. The two leaders held wide-ranging discussions aimed at deepening bilateral cooperation and reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening the Pakistan-Russia relationship.
Recalling their previous meeting in Astana in 2024, both leaders expressed satisfaction with the growing momentum in bilateral ties over the past year. They noted that the relationship between Pakistan and Russia is increasingly characterized by mutual trust, respect, and cordiality.
Prime Minister Sharif highlighted Pakistan’s strong commitment to enhancing bilateral engagement with Russia across diverse sectors. These include trade and connectivity, energy, agriculture, investment, defence, artificial intelligence, education, culture, and people-to-people exchanges. He emphasized that Pakistan places immense importance on its strategic relationship with Russia and finds encouraging alignment in both countries’ approaches on many key international issues.
The Prime Minister also stressed the importance of regular high-level dialogue and the activation of established institutional mechanisms to sustain and grow bilateral cooperation. He particularly underscored flagship initiatives like the proposed Pakistan Steel Mill (PSM) revival in Karachi and investments in regional connectivity as symbols of long-term friendship between the two nations.
President Putin welcomed the Prime Minister’s remarks and shared his appreciation for the upward trajectory of Pakistan-Russia relations. He emphasized the value of both countries’ collaboration within multilateral forums, especially the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), which he described as a vital platform for promoting regional and global peace and stability.
The two leaders also exchanged views on regional and international developments, including the situation in South Asia, Afghanistan, the Middle East, and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Both sides reiterated the importance of continued dialogue and cooperation on long-standing global issues such as Palestine and Kashmir.
In a gesture reflecting the warmth of bilateral ties, President Putin extended a cordial invitation to Prime Minister Sharif to undertake an official visit to Russia in the near future.
BY: The Times Union
