Khawaja Asif leaves for Moscow

F.P. Report

ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif on Monday has left Islamabad for Moscow on a four-day visit with the aim to strengthen the relations among the two countries.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov had invited the Pakistan Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif to visit Russia from 19-22 February 2018.

The visit comes in a situation following the US along with its allies were trying to place Pakistan on Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF) grey-list for allegedly not taking appropriate steps to curb money-laundering and terror financing.

Khawaja Asif will hold official talks with his Russian counterpart and both the leaders will discuss the bilateral ties as well as regional and international issues of mutual interest.

The visit would provide an opportunity to explore ways and means to further strengthen cooperation in political, economic, trade and investment, defense, education and cultural fields.

Russia enjoys a special place in our foreign policy. The relations between the two countries have been growing steadily in all fields.

The two countries are also celebrating the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations this year.

The two Foreign Ministers had earlier met on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session in New York in September 2017.