Pakistan foreign minister to visit Russia

Pakistani Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar will pay an official visit to the Russian Federation at the invitation of Mr. Sergey Viktorovich Lavrov, foreign minister of Russia on Feb. 7 to 10, the Foreign Ministry said Monday. In Moscow, Foreign Minister Khar would hold in-depth talks with her Russian counterpart on expanding and diversifying Pakistan- Russia relations, the ministry statement said. "They would also exchange views on regional and global issues of mutual interest." Khar would also have interaction with Russian parliamentarians and address the Institute of Oriental Studies, the statement said. "Pakistan attaches enormous importance to its relations with the Russian Federation. The Foreign Minister's visit will help further augment bilateral ties to the mutual benefit of the two countries." The statement said that Pakistan and Russia enjoy very cordial relations and the two countries have been exploring ways and means to inject further substance into the bilateral relationship, especially in the fields of energy, infrastructure development, agriculture and science and technology.