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PM Imran Khan accepts Putin's invitation to visit Russia in September

PM Imran Khan accepts Putin's invitation to visit Russia in September
July 6, 2019
ISLAMABAD (92 News) – Prime Minister Imran Khan has accepted the invitation of Russia’s President Viladmir Putin to visit Russia in September, it has been learnt Saturday. The invitation was extended by Putin last month in a conversation between the two leaders on the sidelines of the 19th Meeting of the Council of the Heads of State (CHS) of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in Bishkek. According to sources, the Russian president invited Imran Khan to attend as a special guest the Eastern Economic Forum, which is scheduled to be held from Sept 4 to 6 in the Russian city of Vladivostok. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also expected to attend the Eastern Economic Forum. The Pakistani premier and the Russian president held several informal discussions as they attended the SCO summit last month. The two world leaders engaged in conversation on several occasions. Observers said Prime Minister Imran Khan interacted with President Putin the most during presence of other world leaders at the SCO moot. Prime Minister Imran Khan and President Putin were also seen sitting next to each other during lunch as they remained engaged in conversation. The two were also seen standing next to each other during photo sessions. The relations between the two countries began improving in the last three years with exchange of high-level delegations, ending the cold war era. Pakistan and Russia have already agreed to enhance parliamentary exchanges to deepen bilateral cooperation and develop understanding for each other’s view. According to a press release issued by the Foreign Office on Thursday last, the resolve to this effect was expressed at 4th round of Bilateral Political Consultations between Pakistan and Russia held on July 2 in Moscow. Additional Secretary Zaheer A Janjua and IV Morgulov, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, led their respective delegations. The two sides held a comprehensive review of the bilateral relations and identified areas for further cooperation in political, economic, trade, investment, defence, energy, agriculture, education, culture and tourism.