Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's address to the citizens of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between our countries, Moscow, June 12, 2023
12 June 2023 08:00
12-06-2023
Dear citizens of Pakistan!
I am glad to congratulate you on the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between our countries. We know about the great interest and respect that the Pakistani people entertain towards Russia and President Vladimir Putin. We appreciate it very much.
There have been different periods in our relations over the past three quarters of a century. However, Russia has always been interested in expanding cooperation with Pakistan, and under no circumstances has abandoned its commitments. The participation of Soviet specialists in the construction of the largest steel mill in Karachi (now called Pakistan Steel Mills) in the 1980s, despite the conflict raging in Afghanistan at the time, is clear evidence of this. The Guddu Thermal Power Plant, then the largest in your country, was also commissioned at that time.
Nowadays, our relations are advanced and based on trust. They are founded on the concurrence or proximity of approaches to the key issues of the international agenda. Together with our Pakistani partners, we stand for shaping a more just and democratic multipolar world order. We respect the cultural and civilizational diversity of peoples and their right to determine the avenues of their political, social and economic development themselves. I would like to note that Russia's vision of the world order and our understanding of traditional moral values is in harmony with the principles of faith, unity and discipline formulated by the Father of the Pakistani people Muhammad Ali Jinnah. It is on these pillars that the statehood of modern Pakistan is based.
We attach great importance to further constructive cooperation with your country in international fora. We highly appreciate Pakistan's contribution to the activities of the United Nations and its specialized agencies. We welcome Islamabad's active involvement in joint work within the SCO as a full member of this Organization, which plays an important role in establishing multilateral cooperation in Greater Eurasia. We consider the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to be a key international partner in the joint efforts to combat common security challenges and threats, including transborder crime and terrorism.
It is encouraging that over the recent years we have succeeded in making significant progress in bilateral trade. Russia has become a major supplier of wheat to Pakistan, with shipments exceeding one million tons last year. Negotiations on launching a cooperation project in the oil sector are at their final stage.
We are willing to work together on further engagement of our countries and peoples, strengthening mutually beneficial relations in politics, security, economy, education, in cultural and humanitarian fields as well as in other areas.
Pakistan-Roosi dosti zindabad! (in Urdu "Long live the friendship between Russia and Pakistan!").
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