Vladimir Putin: Visit of Pakistani President Gives Impetus to Development of Relations Between the Two Countries

Pakistani-Russian relations are developing ever more intensively, especially after Islamabad's joining the anti-terror coalition. Vladimir Putin said as much when receiving President of Pakistan Pervez Musharraf in the Green Hall of the Grand Kremlin Palace.

Pakistan is rapidly developing and becoming ever more weighty in international affairs, the Russian president stressed. He expressed the hope that Musharraf's visit to Russia would give a new impetus to the development of bilateral relations.

Vladimir Putin also stated that this year would mark the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Russia and Pakistan and expressed satisfaction with the fact that the two presidents had succeeded in implementing the understandings reached last year in Almaty on Musharraf's Moscow visit.

"You are a well-known military and political figure," Vladimir Putin told his Pakistani counterpart, and added that, being a tough politician, Musharraf understands the processes taking place in the world and can integrate his country in them. The Russian president believes that these are good prerequisites for developing our economic and political relations.

For his part, Pervez Musharraf thanked Vladimir Putin for the warm welcome given to the Pakistani delegation and pointed out that he had attended the Bolshoi Theatre, went to Red Square and the Kremlin. According to him, Russia has a great history and cultural wealth.

Musharraf also stressed that Vladimir Putin was very popular not only in Russia but also throughout the world, and people in Pakistan greatly respected him. The Pakistani leader also pointed to the vigorous and active character of the head of the Russian state.