PM Shehbaz, President Putin Vow to Strengthen Pakistan-Russia Ties in Beijing

BEIJING; Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Russian President Vladimir Putin met in Beijing on Tuesday on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of State Summit, reaffirming their resolve to further deepen bilateral ties across multiple sectors.

During the meeting, Prime Minister Shehbaz emphasized that Pakistan-Russia relations had gained significant momentum in recent years due to President Putin’s personal commitment and interest.

He recalled their last interaction in Astana during the SCO summit in 2024, after which a series of high-level visits and agreements had taken place, covering agriculture, iron and steel, energy, and transport.

The premier also highlighted the importance of regional connectivity, noting the potential of a trade corridor linking Belarus, Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan to boost prosperity across Eurasia.

Shehbaz underscored that Pakistan viewed Russia as an important partner in the region and valued its supportive role as a “balancing force.” He expressed his government’s keenness to establish strong, supplementary, and complementary ties with Moscow, while respecting Russia’s relations with India. The prime minister assured President Putin of working closely to enhance mutual cooperation and lauded him as a “dynamic leader” committed to strengthening bilateral bonds.

President Putin, in turn, described Pakistan as a “traditional partner” in Asia and said Russia cherished this partnership. He expressed satisfaction with the recent upward trajectory in ties but noted that bilateral trade needed further expansion.

He stressed the need for joint efforts to remove bottlenecks in commerce and economic cooperation. Putin also recalled Pakistan’s purchase of Russian oil last year, which had boosted trade volumes, and encouraged sustained collaboration in energy and related sectors.

The Russian leader extended condolences over the losses suffered by Pakistan due to recent floods and other natural disasters, expressing confidence that the country would overcome these challenges under its current leadership.

He also acknowledged Pakistan’s active role in international forums, including the UN Security Council, where Islamabad currently serves as a non-permanent member.

Putin extended an invitation to Prime Minister Shehbaz to attend the SCO Heads of Government Summit in Moscow in November. The prime minister welcomed the invitation, affirming that Pakistan was eager to continue engaging with Russia at the highest levels to advance shared goals of peace, stability, and prosperity.

This latest engagement builds on a growing Pakistan-Russia partnership that has seen renewed momentum in recent years. In July, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk described Islamabad and Moscow as “natural allies,” while in June, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov reaffirmed Moscow’s intent to expand cooperation with Pakistan following a multi-sector MoU signed last year.

Observers say the Shehbaz-Putin meeting in Beijing underscores Pakistan’s strategic outreach to both China and Russia amid shifting global alignments, highlighting Islamabad’s aspiration to play a more central role in regional connectivity and economic integration.