Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Beijing on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, expressing his intent to deepen bilateral relations while acknowledging Moscow’s close ties with India.

Sharif thanked Putin for supporting Pakistan, describing the partnership as “a balancing act in the region.” He said Pakistan respected Russia’s relations with India but wanted to build strong, complementary ties of its own.
“Our relations have only improved over the years. I intend to decisively strengthen our bilateral ties,” Sharif said, according to Russian state media.

Expanding Cooperation

The Pakistani leader said his government was eager to work with Russia in areas including trade connectivity, energy, agriculture, investment, defence, artificial intelligence, education, and cultural exchanges. He also praised Putin as “a very dynamic leader,” adding that ties between the two countries were now “moving in the right direction.”

Putin noted the growing momentum in Russia–Pakistan relations and stressed the importance of working together in multilateral forums like the SCO to promote regional and global stability.

Broader Discussions

The two leaders also exchanged views on key regional and international issues, including Afghanistan, the Middle East, the Ukraine conflict, Palestine, and Kashmir. Sharif accepted Putin’s invitation to visit Russia in November for an SCO heads of government meeting.

Pakistan and Russia, once on opposing sides during the Cold War, have in recent years taken steps to build closer ties, particularly in trade and security cooperation.

Separately in Beijing, Sharif also met Tajikistan’s President Emomali Rahmon, with both leaders reaffirming their commitment to strengthen cooperation across multiple sectors.

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