Russian FM begins visit to Pakistan

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Viktorovich Lavrov arrived in Islamabad Wednesday evening on a two- day official visit for bilateral consultations, Pakistani state television reported. He will hold talks with his Pakistani counterpart Hina Rabbani Khar on Thursday, the Foreign Ministry said. Lavrov is also scheduled to meet Pakistani President and Prime Minister. The visit will provide an opportunity to further expand and intensify the existing mutually beneficial bilateral ties, the Foreign Ministry said. "Pakistan and Russia enjoy an excellent relationship based on mutual interest in enhancing greater bilateral cooperation and convergence of views on various important regional and international issues," it said. The two countries also share the common objective of peace and stability in the broader region and attach importance to regional connectivity both in terms of trade and energy cooperation, it added. Recently, the two countries held their Second Inter- Governmental Commission (IGC) on Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation in Islamabad and discussed concrete proposals in various areas of cooperation including energy, agriculture,industries and production, bilateral trade and investment, scientific and technical cooperation, . Lavrvo's visit came after the Foreign Ministry said that the visit to Islamabad by Russian President Vladimir Putin was postponed. Putin was scheduled to attend the quadrilateral summit, which was planned to be held in Islamabad from Oct. 2 to 3. Leaders from Afghanistan and Tajikistan were also scheduled to attend the summit. The Russian Foreign Minister's visit coincided with the visit of Pakistan's army chief, General Ashfaq Pervaiz Kayani, who embarked on a four-day visit to Russia on Wednesday.