Wed Sep 03 01:42:11 UTC 2025: **Summary:**

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in China on Tuesday during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit. Sharif expressed a desire to strengthen bilateral ties with Russia, emphasizing that Pakistan respects Russia’s relations with India. He also thanked Putin for his support, which was seen as a balancing act in the region. Both leaders discussed a range of issues, including trade, energy, regional security, and the situations in South Asia, Afghanistan, the Middle East, and Ukraine. Sharif accepted Putin’s invitation to visit Russia in November. The meeting highlights a growing cooperative relationship between Pakistan and Russia.

**News Article:**

**Pakistan Seeks Stronger Ties with Russia, Respects India Relations, Says PM Sharif at SCO Summit**

**TIANJIN, CHINA -** Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin, expressing a desire to significantly strengthen bilateral relations between Pakistan and Russia. The meeting occurred as both leaders are in China to participate in the SCO summit and commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression.

“Our relations have only improved over the past many years,” Prime Minister Sharif told President Putin. “I also intend to decisively strengthen our bilateral ties.”

Sharif emphasized that Pakistan respects Russia’s existing relations with India, stating, “I must say that we respect your relations with India. That is perfectly fine. But we also want to build very strong relations (with Russia).” He added that these relations would be “supplementary and complementary for the good and for the progress and prosperity of the region.”

The Pakistani Prime Minister highlighted several key areas for potential expansion, including trade connectivity, energy, agriculture, investment, defense, artificial intelligence, education, culture, and people-to-people exchanges.

President Putin acknowledged the positive trajectory of ties between the two countries and stressed the importance of collaboration within organizations like the SCO for regional and global security and stability.

The leaders also discussed pressing international issues such as the situations in South Asia, Afghanistan, the Middle East, and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, as well as the disputes of global interest, such as Palestine and Kashmir.

Prime Minister Sharif accepted President Putin’s invitation to visit Russia in November to participate in an SCO event for heads of government.

The growing cooperation between Pakistan and Russia marks a significant shift from Cold War-era tensions, with both nations expressing a commitment to strengthening their partnership.

In a separate meeting, Prime Minister Sharif also met with Tajikistan’s President Emomali Rahmon, where both leaders expressed satisfaction with the existing cooperation between their countries.

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