Trade between Russia, Pakistan up by nearly 50% in Q1 2023 - Duma's Volodin

MOSCOW. June 7 (Interfax) - Russian State Duma Chairman Vyacheslav Volodin and Pakistani Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani discussed the development of inter-parliamentary relations at a meeting on Wednesday, the Duma's press service said.

"During the meeting, Vyacheslav Volodin noted that economic ties between Russia and Pakistan are developing dynamically, and that the trade between our countries grew by nearly 50% in the first quarter of this year compared to the same period last year," it said following the meeting.

Volodin suggested that Russian and Pakistani parliamentarians "should meet more frequently, and not only discuss the development of trade relations but also work out a common position on such key matters as the preservation of cultural heritage, historical memory, traditions, religion, and our values," the press service said.

"There have been attempts to erode them and enforce different ones on us. We need to protect them," Volodin said.

Sanjrani said Pakistan is thankful to Russia for its help in the trade and economic sector, insisted that this cooperation will only continue to grow, and proposed stepping up bilateral contacts between Pakistani and Russian businesses and chambers of commerce and industry, the press service said.