According to the sources of the foreign office, Prime Minister Imran Khan will be visiting Russia in September this year on the invitation of the Russian President Vladimir Putin. During the visit, PM Khan would join the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) which is scheduled from 4 September to 6 September in Vladivostok. PM Khan would be welcomed as a guest of honor at the forum and Indian PM Narendra Modi will also be attending the forum.
Pakistan has strong ties with Russia as both countries have similar interests with regard to the Afghan war. Russian officials had acknowledged Pakistani efforts to bring peace in the region and agreed to continue the support for the Afghan peace process in a meeting with Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi. Earlier this year, Russian embassy stated that due to our influence in the Muslim world and our role in regional politics, Russia considers us an important partner.
Last month, PM Khan and President Putin also had an informal meeting on sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit (SCO) held in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. During the meeting, promotion of bilateral ties and international situation was discussed. PM Khan and President Putin were also seen seated side by side during the dinner. Putin commented that Russia wants to have good relations with Pakistan. However, the said informal discussion was apparently resented by the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The invitation to the EEF was initially extended by President Putin to PM Khan in the meeting at SCO.
The EEF was initiated by the directive of President Putin back in 2015. Since then, the stage is set every year in Vladivostok to discuss key issues related to international economics, regional coordination, improvement of industries and technology and the worldwide difficulties confronting Russia and different countries.
