Islamabad [Pakistan]: On the contrary to information published in certain newspapers that Russian Ambassador to Pakistan Alexey Dedov in his interview to Radio Pakistan informed about discussions concerning merging the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project with the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), the Russian Embassy in Pakistan on Monday said in the interview, the Ambassador said it was the issue of merging the EAEU with the Chinese project of the Silk Road Economic Belt that was under discussion.
Recognising the importance of the CPEC Project for the Pakistani economy and regional connectivity, the Ambassador made it clear that Russia doesn’t participate in it being engaged in realisation of its own large-scale bilateral project with Pakistan – that of ‘North-South’ gas pipeline from Karachi to Lahore, the statement said.
In this connection the Embassy would also like to attract attention to a Press Release published by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on November 29, 2016, saying that Moscow is not discussing the possibility of joining this project with Islamabad. Russia-Pakistan trade and economic cooperation has its own inherent value, and we intend to strengthen it.
According to Radio Pakistan, Replying to a question, the Russian envoy said that Russia strongly supports China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project as it is crucial for Pakistan’s economy and regional connectivity.
He pointed out that CPEC is component of China’s Silk Road and his country was also working on a similar Eurasian Economic Union and “China and Russia are holding discussions to merge the two projects”. (ANI)