PM Shehbaz Sharif, President Putin Agree to Boost Pakistan-Russia Relations at SCO Summit in Beijing
Beijing, September 2, 2025 – Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Beijing, where both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening Pakistan-Russia relations in key areas including trade, energy, agriculture, and connectivity.
During the high-level meeting, PM Shehbaz praised President Putin’s personal role in bringing Islamabad and Moscow closer in recent years. He noted that since their last meeting in Astana, both countries have exchanged several high-level delegations and signed multiple agreements covering steel, energy, agriculture, and transport.
The Pakistani premier highlighted the importance of a regional trade corridor linking Belarus, Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. He described it as a vital step for boosting regional connectivity and long-term prosperity.
PM Shehbaz also thanked Russia for its balanced diplomatic role in South Asia, stressing that Pakistan respected Moscow’s relations with India but wanted to establish its own “complementary and supplementary” partnership with Russia. He added that Pakistan’s growing cooperation with Moscow would help bring economic progress and stability to the wider region.
President Putin, in his remarks, called Pakistan a traditional partner in Asia and emphasized the need to further expand bilateral trade. He expressed condolences for the recent natural disasters in Pakistan and voiced confidence that the country would overcome challenges under its current leadership.
The Russian leader also praised Pakistan’s active role in multilateral forums, noting close cooperation at the United Nations where Islamabad currently serves as a non-permanent member of the Security Council.
Both leaders agreed to enhance cooperation in commerce, energy, and inter-parliamentary exchanges, while also pledging to continue joint efforts at regional and global platforms.
President Putin invited PM Shehbaz to attend the upcoming SCO Heads of Government Summit in Russia this November, which the Pakistani leader accepted, reaffirming his commitment to strengthening ties with Moscow.
Growing Pakistan-Russia Trade
In recent years, Pakistan-Russia trade has gained momentum, particularly after Islamabad began importing oil from Moscow. This move significantly increased bilateral trade volume and opened new avenues for energy collaboration.
Meeting with Tajik President
On the sidelines of the summit, PM Shehbaz also met with Tajikistan’s President. Both leaders expressed satisfaction with the ongoing partnership and agreed to deepen cooperation in trade, investment, energy, regional security, culture, and people-to-people exchanges.