'Together with Pakistan, Russia wants to shape just' world order, says foreign minister

KARACHI, Pakistan

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Monday said his country together with Pakistan wants to work for shaping a "more just and democratic" multi-polar world order.

Addressing the Pakistani people on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between the two countries, Lavrov, in a video message, said Moscow treats Pakistan as a key security partner in combating terrorism and other security threats.

"We consider Pakistan as a key international partner in the joint effort to combat joint security challenges and threats including trans-border crimes and terrorism," Moscow's top diplomat added.

Over the recent years, he further said, the two countries have seen significant increase in trade and economy sectors, with Russia emerging as a key wheat supplier to the South Asian nation.

"Negotiations are in the final stage to launch cooperation in the oil sector," he said, following the arrival of the first cargo of discounted Russian crude oil in Pakistan on Sunday.

Islamabad placed its first order for 100,000 metric tons of Russian crude oil in April following a series of bilateral negotiations.

Russia willing to bolster ties

Lavrov further said that Moscow is willing to work together with Islamabad to bolster cooperation in politics, economy, education, culture and humanitarian fields.

Citing the construction of Pakistan's largest steel mills in the southern port city of Karachi in the 80s, and conditioning of the country's largest thermal power plant by Russia despite "raging" conflict in neighboring Afghanistan, he said Moscow has always been interested in expanding ties with Islamabad.

"Nowadays our relations are advanced and based on trust. They are founded on the concurrence of proximity of approaches to the key issues of the international agenda," he said.

Welcoming Pakistan's "active" role in Shanghai Cooperation Organization as a full member, Lavrov said Russia wants to further bolster cooperation with Pakistan on the international forums.