Islamabad:
President Asif Ali Zardari said Tuesday that Pakistan and Russia have a huge necessary potential to be exploited to expand the bilateral association in commerce, investment, technology and exchanges of people to people.
The president made these comments as the main guest at the special ceremony that celebrated the 35th National Day of the Russian Federation held in the Federal Capital.
The governor of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Faisal Karim Kundi, special prime minister (SAPM) Tariq Fatemi and the members of the diplomatic corps attended the event.
The president declared that Pakistan considers Russia as an important global power that has been a key player to guarantee regional peace and stability, particularly in the Eurasia region.
President Zardari extended his sincere congratulations to the president of the Federation of Russia Vladimir Putin, ambassador of the Russian Federation Albert Khorev, as well as the people of Russia.
“On this important occasion, Pakistan joins Russia to celebrate this national day, reflecting our solidarity and friendship. I am glad to say that our bilateral relations have improved over the years, depending on mutual respect, cooperation and interest shared in several fields,” said the president.
He said that there have been extensive high -level interactions between the two countries that had sat the foundations for deeper commitment and understanding. Pakistan and Russia also continue to cooperate closely on regional and international platforms, he added.
The president stressed that Sapm Tariq Fatemi had a promising meeting with Russian Foreign Minister in Moscow earlier this month, where both parties had underlined the importance of peace and stability in the region.
“I am sure that the ties of friendship between Pakistan and Russia will continue to strengthen. As we celebrate this important occasion tonight, let’s reaffirm our commitment to build bridges of understanding and cooperation between our two nations. We allow us to cling to the opportunities that are coming and work together for a brighter and more prosperous future.
Previously, in his welcome speech, Ambassador Khorev emphasized that Russia remains a sovereign, powerful and resistant nation, driven by the unwavering support of its people. Reflecting on the words of President Putin, the ambassador said that Russia has historically played a unifying role in the region, which extends “from the Baltic to the Caucasus.”
Highlighting constant progress in Pak-Russia relations, Ambassador Khorev declared that bilateral cooperation is advancing at a satisfactory pace in several sectors.
He expressed his appreciation for the growing interest of Pakistan in Russian language and culture.
“We praise the Pakistani enthusiasm for learning the Russian language,” he said. “The Russian mission actively supports the establishment and expansion of language learning institutions throughout the country.”
The ambassador also reaffirmed Russia’s continuous support to Pakistan on several international platforms, noting that both nations are working together to deepen ties in education, diplomacy and mutual development.
The event concluded with the interpretation of the Russian musician about folk music.
