A high-powered delegation led by Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on foreign affairs Tariq Fatemi called on Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk in Moscow on Thursday.

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Industries and Production, Haroon Akhtar Khan, who is also the focal person for the Pakistan Steel Mills project, was also part of the delegation.

During the meeting, the two sides reviewed the entire gamut of bilateral relations in all areas of mutual interest, including political, trade and economic cooperation, as well as energy, connectivity, industrial and agricultural cooperation.

Fatemi underlined that Pakistan attached high importance to its relations with the Russian Federation, adding that strengthening relations with the latter was one of Pakistan’s foreign policy priorities.

He affirmed that Pakistan viewed Russia as a stabilising factor in the international arena.

Furthermore, during the discussion, Haroon Akhtar conveyed that Pakistan attached high importance to ongoing discussions on the new steel mills in Karachi, as the project carried an important legacy of Pakistan’s relations with Russia that could serve as a “leap forward” symbol of future cooperation and partnership.

Haroon Akhtar gave an overview of the investment-friendly industrial policy of Pakistan that had ensured macroeconomic stability.

During the meeting, DPM Overchuk, who was assisted by key ministers, recalled his visit to Pakistan in September 2024 and his meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on the sidelines of the SCO-Heads of Government in Islamabad in October 2024.

Characterising Pakistan and Russia as “natural allies”, he stressed that President Putin considered Pakistan an important partner in the growth and development of the economy and energy in the region.

He also highlighted the significance of important connectivity projects between the two countries, such as the railway connectivity between Uzbekistan, Pakistan and Russia, and the launching of a pilot cargo train between Pakistan and Russia in August 2025.

The two sides also touched upon regional and international issues, such as the situation in South Asia, Afghanistan, and the Middle East, as well as the bilateral cooperation between Pakistan and Russia at all multilateral forums.

The visit was deeply appreciated by the Russian deputy prime minister, who emphasised that President Putin was strongly in favour of further deepening of cooperation with Pakistan in all important sectors.

The deputy prime minister also shared that President Putin was looking forward to his meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on the sidelines of the forthcoming SCO-Council of Heads of State in Tianjin, China, in late August this year.