Pakistan and Russia are expected to reactivate the inter governmental commission on trade, economic, scientific and technical cooperation during the Russian Prime Minister's visit this week, foreign office spokesperson Tasnim Aslam said here on Monday.
The Russian Prime Minister Mikhail E. Fradkov who will be visiting from 11 to 13 April, is the first Prime Minister of the Russian Federation to visit Pakistan. Earlier Premier Alexey Kosygin visited Pakistan in May 1969 as Prime Minister of the Soviet Union.
President Pervez Musharraf visited the Russian Federation in February 2003. Prime Minister Fradkov and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz have met on two previous occasions during the Shanghai Cooperation Summits in October 2005 in Moscow and September 2006 in Dushanbe.
The spokesperson said that the Russian Prime Minister would hold in-depth discussions with Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz. He will also call on the President and address a gathering of businessmen. She said that the major focus of the visit would be on bilateral relations with particular emphasis on ways and means to enhance economic cooperation.
She said that the two countries are committed to establish a strong relationship based on solid foundations. There are a number of opportunities for Russian participation in various projects in Pakistan. The emphasis during the visit would be on establishing a substantive economic agenda to mutual benefit of both the countries.
She said that both sides are cognisant of each other's importance. Russia is a major international player. It is a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council and of the G-8. Russia's clout and influence has considerably been enhanced in the last few years. Today Russia is in the midst of remarkable economic recovery. There is a growing convergence of interests between the two countries on issues of regional and international importance.
Bilateral trade presently stands at $520 million, which is heavily in Russian favour. She said that good prospects exist of joint collaboration between Pakistan and Russia in sectors such as oil and gas, railways, construction of coal, thermal and hydel power generation.
A number of agreements are expected to be signed during the visit relating to Railways, Narcotics control and exchanges in cultural, educational, sports and scientific fields.
AFP adds: Foreign ministry on Monday denied reports that a Briton held over a plot to bomb transatlantic jets would be extradited to Britain in exchange for six separatist leaders.
The arrest of British national Rashid Rauf in August by Pakistan sparked a world-wide security alert and arrests in Britain amid fears of a conspiracy to blow up airliners flying from London to the United States. Rauf's family last week filed a legal petition alleging that Islamabad was negotiating with London to extradite him in return for six wanted Baluch nationalists who are based in Britain, and seeking to stop such a move.
"No," foreign ministry spokeswoman Tasnim Aslam replied when asked if Pakistan had any such plan, which was first reported by Britain's Guardian newspaper in March. Aslam said that currently Pakistan and Britain had no extradition treaty but that a draft accord was in its final stages. The 25-year-old Rauf faces charges including impersonation, carrying a fake identity card and fake documents, which he denies. He is still being held by security forces under special anti-terror legislation.
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