OREANDA-NEWS. August 18, 2010.  The two Presidents reviewed the state of the political dialogue between Russia and Pakistan, looked at current bilateral cooperation issues and regional matters, and discussed cooperation on fighting terrorism, drug trafficking, and organised crime.

Among the items on the agenda at the meeting were ways to activate trade and economic ties, including by carrying out joint projects in the fuel, energy and metals sectors and rail transport, and opportunities for improving the investment climate and expanding direct contacts between the two countries’ business communities. The Russian-Pakistani Intergovernmental Commission will hold its first meeting on September 21, 2010. 

The meeting also examined in particular Russia’s emergency aid to Pakistan to help in the relief effort following the most severe flooding ever to hit the country.

Dmitry Medvedev once again expressed his condolences to his Pakistani counterpart, Asif Ali Zardari, over the many victims caused by this unprecedented natural disaster. 

Russia was one of the first countries to express its readiness to help Pakistan deal with the disaster, which has already claimed the lives of more than 1,600 victims and affected more than 20 million people in total. Acting on Mr Medvedev’s instructions, Russia’s Emergency Situations Ministry sent an Il-76 plane with emergency aid supplies to Pakistan on Monday.