PM Shehbaz Sharif may visit Russia in first week of December, meeting with Putin expected

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is likely to make an official visit to Russia in the first week of December. Diplomatic sources said key members of the federal cabinet and senior officials will accompany him to Moscow. According to Dawn News, there has been no official confirmation of the visit or of the expected meeting with President Vladimir Putin.

According to sources, Shehbaz Sharif and Vladimir Putin will hold formal talks during the visit. Bilateral relations, trade and economic cooperation, energy, regional security and global affairs may be discussed. According to Daily Times, the diplomatic missions of both countries are finalising the protocol and agenda for the occasion.

Official sources said long-term cooperation in the energy sector may be discussed. This includes Russian oil, liquefied natural gas (LNG) and gas pipeline projects. Any long-term arrangement will depend on the outcome of the talks and on the relevant commercial, technical and policy matters.

Diplomatic sources said various agreements and memorandums of understanding may also be signed between Pakistan and Russia during the visit. According to Daily Times, these may relate to energy infrastructure, bilateral trade, transport links and agricultural exchange. The talks are also expected to cover agricultural exports and a banking system to ease bilateral trade.

A Pakistan-Russia Business Forum will also be held in Moscow during the visit. Business leaders and trade delegations from both countries will consider ways to expand trade and economic cooperation and investment opportunities.

Russian Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev recently paid an official visit to Islamabad and held talks with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on counterterrorism and security cooperation. Further details and the schedule of the visit have not yet been released.