Russians keen on investing in Thar coal
MOSCOW - Pakistan and Russia Wednesday agreed to promote and enhance the bilateral relations in diverse fields including trade and energy. The Russian investors have shown keen interest to invest in Thar coal energy project and Pakistan Steel Mills.
Addressing a joint press conference along with her Russian counterpart, Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar said there has been a scope for cooperation between the two countries in different areas and all the aspects for improving cooperation have been discussed during the meeting of two foreign ministers. Khar is on four-day visit to Russia at the invitation of her Russian counterpart Sergey Viktorovich Lavrov.
She held in-depth talks with Lavrov on expanding and diversifying Pakistan-Russia relations. The two foreign ministers exchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual interests, besides increasing cooperation in energy, infrastructure development, agriculture, science and technology. Replying to a question on Afghanistan, Khar said Pakistan has a clear policy on that and it would extend full help and cooperation to any Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan-driven peace initiative as it is the only long lasting solution to the problem.
She said Pakistan has repeatedly said there should be political solution to Afghan problem for durable peace in the region. The foreign minister said TAPI and KASA 1000 energy projects were also discussed during the meeting. She said Pakistan also got very encouraging response from Russia for more investment in the most important project of Pakistan Steel Mills.
She said both countries also agreed to enhance parliamentary interaction, besides increasing cooperation at the level of foreign ministries of two countries. Khar said it has also been agreed that there would be more interaction between the chambers of commerce and industries of two countries to improve trade activities. She said the Russian investors have also shown interest to invest in different energy projects like Thar coal. Regarding cooperation in energy sector, she said: We are looking forward for the energy group to be meeting within the first half of this year.
Talking about the regional level of cooperation, Khar said Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), is exceptionally important forum within the region to face and counter the regional challenges.
She said Pakistan has been actively participating in the deliberations of SCO and seeking its permanent membership and thanked the Russian Federation for extending its support on the issue.
The foreign minister said next quadrilateral summit to be held in Pakistan was also discussed during the meeting with her Russian counterpart and added Pakistan is looking forward to host this summit. She said she has extended invitation to the Russian leadership on behalf of President Asif Ali Zardari for this quadrilateral summit.
She said the visit of President Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani to Russia and their meetings with the Russian leaders have also improved the bilateral ties and it also indicated that Pakistan gives importance to its relations with Russia. Addressing the press conference, Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov said both the countries also agreed to cooperate in fighting terrorism and drug crimes.
He said: We have a good future in implementation of major transnational energy projects at the border between the Central Asian and South Asian regions.
He said: In our international cooperation we pay special attention to the issues of terrorism and drug crimes.
He said soon, federal service representative of Russia on control of drug substances will start working in Islamabad.
On the issue of promotion of trade relations, Lavrov said the Pakistani side received Russias draft of a joint action plan in trade and investments.
We discussed cooperation in the framework of the SCO, the Dushanbe quartet and the UN Security Council, as Pakistan is the Security Councils permanent member for 2012-2013, Lavrov said.
He said: We share approaches to major international problems, principles, on the basis of which it is necessary to settle emerging problems.
Russians keen on investing in Thar coal | The Nation