Muhammad Omar
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MULTAN: Russian Ambassador in Pakistan Alexey Yurivich Dedov Wednesday said that Russia was extending full support to Pakistan's bid for Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) membership.
Pakistan would become the SCO member, the Russian ambassador said while addressing a gathering of industrialists and business tycoons at Multan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI).
He said, "Despite old relationship between Russia and Pakistan, bilateral economic ties has been facing stagnation, which we have broken now."
Alexey Yurivich Dedov said that lack of direct contact between the two countries in trade and industrial sectors was a factor behind lack of trade relations and added that situation would improve further with the removal of hurdles.
He said that recently held joint military exercises and Russian cooperation in many projects was a testimony to the fact that relationship between the two countries were improving and moving forward. He said that Russia would ensure the completion of 2.5 billion dollar Nawabshah-Lahore gas pipeline.
He said that Russia extended full cooperation in upgradating Muzaffatgarh Thermal Power Station and extension and upgradation of Jamshoro power station.
He said that Silk route was being built to connect China, Kazakhstan and Russia and there were possibilities of mutual cooperation.
He said that Russia could also extend cooperation in energy projects under China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). He announced that Russian government had increased the number of scholarships for higher education for Pakistani students.
He said that National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq had left for Russia to attend meeting there while relationship between two countries' foreign ministries were also growing. However, the ambassador added that bilateral relations still had room for further improvement and a lot was needed to be done in many sectors.
He said that visa problems were being resolved, however, added that Russia had been issuing visas to Pakistani trade and industrial delegations on priority.
Russian Secretary for Trade Yuri Cozlove said on the occasion that trade relations between the two countries in few sectors needed to be expanded to other sectors through negotiations.
He said that Russia could transfer skill and technology to Pakistan in agriculture, energy and engineering particularly tractor manufacturing. Moreover, Russia could also extend cooperation in defence products, he added. Yuri Cozlove disclosed that 50 Russian companies were willing to invest in different sectors in Pakistan under joint venture initiatives.
He said that Russian Embassy had recorded all details in compact disc (CD) which could be provided to MCCI members.
MCCI president Khawaja Jalaluddin Rumi said that this area was the gateway to central Asian countries for trade. He said that there was existing enormous opportunities for investment under joint ventures in this area which contributed to the national production some 80 per cent cotton, 47 per cent wheat, 23 per cent sugarcane, 44 per cent big cattle, 62 per cent sheep, 55 per cent goat, besides sizable quantity of mangoes, kino and vegetables.
