BEIJING – While commenting on closer relations between Pakistan and Russia,a Chinese expert on international affairs said on Wednesday that both thecountries could play a constructive role to bring peace and stability inthe region including Afghanistan.
“Both Pakistan and Russia have shared interests to see peace, stability andsecurity in Afghanistan,” Senior Research Fellow at China Institute ofInternational Relations, Jia Xiudong told China Global Television Network(CGTN).
He opined that the two countries could also use multilateral channels toenhance their dialogue as Russia, China and Pakistan had a trilateraldialogue concerning Afghanistan.
Jia Xiudong said that Pakistan was now a full member of ShanghaiCooperation Organization (SCO), hence both Russia and Pakistan could usethis new channel to step up their dialogue concerning Afghanistan and tryto bring Taliban back on the negotiating table.
On Foreign Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asi’s official visit to the RussianFederation and his bilateral consultations with Russian counterpart SergeyLavrov in Moscow, he said,”Russia and Pakistan have warmed up relations forseveral years but certainly the latest US move concerning Pakistan hasdriven Pakistan and Russian relations even closer.”
He said that both the countries had not only agreed to enhance theirpolitical consultations but also increase their cooperation in economic,trade and investment areas.
“Both countries have agreed to build a pipeline to deliver natural gas andmore fuel and energy to Pakistan and they have also geared up their defensecooperation,” he added.
To yet another question, he remarked that Pakistan and China enjoyedall-weather friendship and relations regardless of Pakistan’s relationswith other countries, adding “China welcomes friendship between Pakistanand Russia. – APP