Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Beijing on Tuesday, vowing to strengthen bilateral relations while acknowledging and respecting Russia's ties with India. The meeting occurred on the sidelines of events commemorating the 80th anniversary of Japan's defeat in World War II.
Sharif expressed gratitude to Putin for his role in improving relations between Pakistan and Russia, stating that the relationship has grown based on mutual interests. He also thanked Russia for "supporting Pakistan and trying to have a balancing act in the region". Sharif emphasized Pakistan's desire to build strong relations with Russia, stating that these relations would be "supplementary and complementary to the progress and prosperity of the region".
"I know and I must say that I respect your relationship with India and it is perfectly fine, but we also want to build strong relations," Sharif told Putin. He praised Putin as a "very dynamic leader" and expressed his willingness to work closely with him.
Putin affirmed that Moscow values its longstanding partnership with Islamabad, stating, "Pakistan has always been our traditional partner in Asia and we cherish these ties". He also extended condolences for the lives lost in recent natural disasters in Pakistan and expressed optimism that the country would overcome these challenges.
Both leaders pledged to strengthen bilateral relations across trade, energy, and regional connectivity. Sharif highlighted the significance of a proposed trade corridor linking Belarus, Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, saying it would boost regional prosperity. Following their previous meeting at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, both sides agreed to enhance delegations' visits. New protocols have been signed in key sectors including agriculture, iron, steel, energy, and transport.
Sharif noted that Pakistan's import of Russian oil last year remarkably boosted bilateral trade volumes and voiced confidence that commercial links would continue to expand. Putin invited Sharif to attend the SCO heads summit in Russia this November, to which Sharif responded that he is looking forward to the visit.
The meeting took place shortly after the SCO summit in Tianjin, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the council, stating that terrorism poses a threat to all of humanity and that "double standards" in dealing with terrorism will not be tolerated.
In recent years, Russia and Pakistan have been working to strengthen their bilateral ties. In July 2025, Russia's Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk said Islamabad and Moscow were "natural allies". In June 2025, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov reaffirmed Russia's desire to expand cooperation with Pakistan.
