Context
Russia announced it would publicly endorse Pakistan’s bid for full membership of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin was responding on Monday to Pakistani Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani’s address at the Heads of Government meeting. The Russian Premier told reporters that Pakistan was an important economic and trade partner for Russia and also announced his country’s support for Pakistan’s proposed trade and energy projects.
“Pakistan is not only an important trade and economic partner but also a key Russian partner in South Asia and the Islamic world,” Putin was quoted as saying by ITAR-TASS news agency
Russia will also provided partial funding and technical assistance for:
- CASA-1000, a power transmission plant which will allow for the transfer of electricity from Central Asian states such as Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan to Pakistan
- Expansion of Pakistan Steel Mill ($500m Grant)
- Guddu and Muzaffargarh power plants, and
- Thar Coal project
