Pakistan-Russia to capitalize on vast potential of cooperation: Sardar Ayaz Sadiq

Moscow, May 21, 2014 (PPI-OT): Speaker National Assembly of Pakistan, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq has stressed upon the need of further boosting the ties between Pakistan and Russia in all fields including trade, business, energy, metallurgy, manufacturing, etc. He said this, here today, in a meeting with Ms. Valentina Matvienko, the Chairperson of Federation Council of Russian Federation. The speaker is heading a parliamentary delegation in a visit to Russia.

“We have to work together to realize vast potential yet unrealized in the business as well as political fields. In the new parliament the government, as well as opposition, are vociferous in promoting relations with Russia and we must capitalize on the political will and consensus for the promotion of bilateral relations mutually beneficial for the two nations.”

The speaker National Assembly added and specifically mentioned the cooperation in the fields of LNG, textile, power generation and Steel Mills Karachi by the Russian Companies. He assured that the parliament through its standing committees will do everything possible to facilitate the Russian business men by creating linkages between Pakistani business community through chambers of commerce and industries and public sector institutions”, he emphasized.

The speaker also underlined the need of frequent high level contacts between the leadership of Pakistan and Russia, ‘President to President, Prime Minister to Prime Minister, parliament to parliament and people to people contacts, must increase’ he stressed.

“I have brought the message of good wishes to the president and people of Russian Federation from the prime minister of Pakistan. I also invite you to visit Pakistan along with the parliamentary delegation to promote the relations between the two parliaments which are embodiment of the will of the people.“ Sardar Ayaz Sadiq said.

He also informed the meeting that he had brought a letter of invitation from the president of Pakistan Mamnoon Hussain, to the President of Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, to visit Pakistan which would give a clear cut message to the world how much importance both the countries gave to their bilateral relations. The speaker also pointed out that both the countries had similar views on various international issues and were already supporting each other in various global fora.

The speaker also emphasized the need of closer cooperation between Russia and Pakistan to effectively combat the menaces of drug trafficking and terrorism and to ensure peace and stability in post US withdrawal from Afghanistan as it was essential for the regional and global peace without which the full economic potential of the region could not be realized.

On the occasion, Ms. V. I. Matvienko, while heading the Russian side, largely comprising the members of Pakistan Friendship Group in Federation Council, recalled her visit to Pakistan and thanked the speaker and the parliamentary delegation for their visit. She emphasized the need of clear cut road map to achieve substantial results in the fields of political, economic and trade relations between the two countries.

She supported the specific proposals of the Speaker, like investment of Russian Companies in Pakistan especially in the fields of energy, communication and regular flights of Russian Airlines to Pakistan by removing all the hurdles in the way of speedy realization of these objectives.

The Russian side headed by the Chairperson, included the Chairman, Deputy Chairman and members of the Federation Council Committees on Science, Education, Culture and Information Policy, International Affairs, Social Policy, Federation Budget and Financial Markets Committee, Foreign Affairs and the representatives of the Foreign Ministry.

Earlier the Speaker National Assembly also met with the delegation of Pak-Russia Business Council headed by its Chairman, Mr. Gennady Seleznev, and discussed ways and means for manifold increase in business and trade between the business communities of both the countries in the field of agriculture, textile, leather goods, sports goods, etc. and investment in energy sector by the Russian businesses.

Among others the meetings were attended by MNAs Mian Abdul Manan, Chairman All Pakistan Traders Association, Ms. Marvi Memon, Chairperson Standing Committee on Information and convener Russian Friendship Group, Syed Ghulam Mustafa Shah, Chairman Standing Committee on Port and Shipping, Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, Sheikh Salahuddin, Karamat Niazi(Secretary National Assembly), Ambassador of Pakistan to Russia, Zaheer Ahmed Janjua and official of the Embassy.

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