The Russian foreign ministry, Tuesday (today) rubbished Pakistani media reports about ‘secret negotiations’ between the two countries regarding cooperation on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
“The Pakistani media reports about secret negotiations between Russia and Pakistan on the implementation of projects as part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) are not true to the facts,” Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation said in a press release.
Moscow denied holding discussions with Islamabad on the possibility of joining the project.
“Moscow is not discussing the possibility of joining this project with Islamabad,” the Russian foreign ministry said.
“Russia-Pakistan trade and economic cooperation has its own inherent value, and we intend to strengthen it,” it said, adding, “Russian companies are implementing business projects in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, including the planned construction of the North-South gas pipeline from Karachi to Lahore, on a bilateral basis.”