Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif (L) in talks with Russian President Vladmir Putin in Ufa. PHOTO: PID

On the sidelines of the ongoing Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Ufa, Nawaz said that Pakistan attaches great importance to its relations with Russia.Putin congratulated Pakistan on its formal ascension to the SCO on which the premier thanked Russia for its support to Pakistan’s entry.Nawaz told Putin that Pakistan is keen to enhance its relations with the Russian Federation and wants a multi-dimensional relationship with Russia in the fields of trade, defence, energy, infrastructure, culture and other spheres.Both leaders reviewed the progress in a number of projects under consideration especially in the energy sector. They expressed their satisfaction on the progress being made in finalising the North-South gas pipeline agreement and decided to expedite the processPutin stated that Russia too attaches importance to its relations with Pakistan and would like to further enhance them, particularly in the economic domain.Both delegations have expressed the confidence that Sharif-Putin meeting would help in raising the level of friendship and cooperation between the two countries.