President Zardari to visit Russia

Islamabad: Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari will pay an official visit to the Russian Federation between May 11 and 14 at the invitation of President Medvedev, the foreign ministry announced yesterday.

During the visit, President Zardari will have indepth discussions with the Russian leadership on a range of bilateral issues and review important global issues of mutual interest, a statement said.

The two sides will also emphasise the importance they attach to cooperating on issues of stability, peace and security in the common region and to continue to enhance bilateral contacts, consultations, cooperation and coordination between them, it said.

Mr Zardari will address the Russian business community at the Skolkovo Moscow School of Management and also visit St Petersburg, the second largest city and Russia's financial and industrial hub.

The visit has been hailed as a ‘leap forward' in Pakistan-Russia relations to promote greater understanding between the two countries.