At present, the premier is in Kazakhstan s capital of Astana to attend the twin Summits of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of State and SCO plus.

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During a meeting with the Russian president, the prime minister emphasised the need for overcoming financial and other banking issues to expand barter trade between the two countries.

The PM said, "Our relations stand on our own strength, neither our relations are driven by any geopolitical contingency nor are these impacted by our relations with other countries.”

The PM said Pakistan has long business relations with Russia, and recalled that Pakistan used to import a lot of machinery and goods from erstwhile Soviet Russia and export textile and leather goods under barter.

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Calling for enhancing bilateral trade, the prime minister said that the bilateral trade is at the moment touching one billion dollars.

He thanked the Russian president for promoting cooperation in the field of energy on his request. He shared that Pakistan had received a shipment of oil from Russia and there is a need to further move in this direction.

He expressed the desire to work closely with President Putin to further cement bilateral relations.

The PM said bilateral relations between both countries have been on a positive trajectory over the last many years and this is a matter of great comfort for the neighbouring nations.