Speaker of the Federation Council of Russian Federal Assembly Ms Valentina Matvienko has said Russia respects Pakistan's sovereignty, culture and history. Addressing the special sitting of the Senate today (Monday), she emphasized that this relationship is based on mutually beneficial and respectful grounds, asserting that there are no minor or major partners in it. The Russian Speaker expressed a firm desire to enhance cooperation with Pakistan in diverse fields including economy, trade and energy. She said the recent visit of the Russian Prime Minister and that of the current delegation will greatly contribute to further promotion of cooperation between the two countries. She said Russia is ready to scale-up supplies of mineral fertilizers, modern agriculture machines and share modern technology with Pakistan to increase its agricultural productivity. Ms Valentina Matvienko said both Pakistan and Russia can learn a lot from each other and open new horizons for this friendship. She expressed the confide nce that parliaments of the two countries will play their role in improving the legal framework for their cooperation. The Russian Speaker said Pakistan has a favorable geographical location and has considerable logistics and transit potential. Ms Valentina Matvienko said Pakistan-Russia have a long history. Even in the most difficult times, they have maintained the dialogue. She expressed satisfaction over the similarities of their approaches on the majority of international issues. She pointed out that both the countries have consistently promoted and strengthened the UN central coordinated role in international relations. Welcoming the election of Pakistan to the UN Security Council as a non-permanent member, the Russian Speaker said this shows the increasing influence of Pakistan on the global arena. She expressed the confidence that Pakistan will make a significant contribution to a more efficient Security Council and to the achievement of goals of global security and peace. She was confident that P akistan's balanced position, rich experience and profound wisdom of its people and leaders will bring a new perspective by addressing many global problems. She was also appreciative of Pakistan's active participation in the UN peacekeeping missions in many regions of the world. Earlier, Chairman Senate Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani, in his welcome remarks, said the visit of Ms. Valentina Matvienko represents another important step in strengthening the growing ties between Pakistan and Russia. He said the two nations are connected by a shared commitment to regional stability, peace, and prosperity. He extended rich tribute to Ms. Valentina Matvienko for her experience in governance, diplomacy, and international cooperation. The Chairman also commended her contribution towards women empowerment and social development. He said Ms. Valentina Matvienko's commitment to multilateralism resonates deeply with Pakistan's values. Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani expressed the confidence that this visit will be a stepping stone toward a brighter future of cooperation between Pakistan and Russia. In a vote of thanks, Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazeer Tarar extended deepest gratitude to Ms. Valentina Matvienko and her delegation for engagements and dialogue, saying this reflects the spirit of friendship, respect and mutual cooperation between our nations. He said the relationship between Pakistan and Russia is rooted in mutual respect, shared interests and a collective desire to contribute to regional stability and economic prosperity. Over the past seventy-six years, our two countries have worked together across various domains, strengthening economic cooperation, promoting cultural exchange and advancing regional connectivity. Azam Nazeer Tarar said this visit offers a chance to explore new avenues of collaboration not only in energy and trade but also in education and cultural exchange, technology and many others. Senator Ali Zafar called for taking the inter-parliamentary relationships between Pakistan and Russia to new heights. He said Russia can be a crucial and leading partner for us. Sherry Rehman said the visit is a great milestone in our relationship as it embodies both our countries' collective commitment to democratic ideals, dialogue, multilateral engagements and fostering of joint goals. The House will now meet tomorrow (Tuesday) at 11 a.m. Source: Radio Pakistan