Russia-Pakistan trade grows amid global crisis - president.

DUSHANBE, July 30 (Itar-Tass) - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said
on Thursday that a continuing growth of Russian-Pakistani trade despite
the global financial and economic crisis was "a good signal" for the
development of bilateral relations.
"I looked into documents and I found out with surprise that unlike out
trade with other countries, which was affected by the economic crisis, out
trade with Pakistan has not declined, but on the contrary has grown over
the past three to five months," Medvedev said at talks with Pakistani
President Asif Ali Zardari on Thursday.
The Russian president said he was ready to discuss with the Pakistani
counterpart prospects in bilateral relations, as well as major regional
problems - fight against terrorism and drug crimes, "the challenges that
our states have faced".
"I hope that we shall fight against these challenges jointly," the
Russian leader said. Medvedev stressed that his meetings with the
Pakistani president are acquiring a regular nature. "Our contacts have
become frequent. This is good for the development of the Russian-Pakistani
dialogue," he said, recalling a recent meeting in Yekaterinburg.
"This is very useful to build lasting relations for the future between
Russia and Pakistan," Medvedev stressed.
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