Zardari to visit Russia to attend SPIEF

President will pay 3-day visit to participate in Saint Petersburg International Economic Forum.

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari will pay a three-day official visit to Russia from June 20-22 to participate in the Saint Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF).     

Zardari will join other world leaders in the Russian historic city of St. Petersburg that annually gathers leading decision-makers from across the globe to identify key economic challenges and engage them in finding solutions.

With this year's theme “Effective Leadership”, the president will highlight the issues affecting the global economy and the increasing role of emerging economic powers in shaping regional and global agendas.

Zardari will also take part in the panel discussion titled ‘Leadership that works’ and will stress to minimise the global financial crisis and find ways to strengthen energy security, regulate financial markets, and introduce large-scale reforms.

He will also present Pakistan's point of view on the global economic model for the 21st century that can withstand geopolitical challenges and meet the interests of all countries.

The president during his stay will hold talks with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin besides meeting several world leaders and foreign dignitaries on the sidelines of the forum.

He will also interact with the presidents and CEOs of leading international business companies to seek investment in Pakistan, particularly in energy sector.

The SPIEF will debate on important topics including global energy outlook, the Eurasian economic integration, international global energy award, banking in the 21st century and investment in human capital.