Russia denies reports of 'secret negotiation' with Pakistan on CPEC

The Russian foreign ministry has denied Pakistani media reports about it having 'secret negotiations' with Pakistan for the creation of the China-Pakistan economic corridor (CPEC).

A statement issued by Russia's Foreign Affairs Ministry said 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. Russian companies are implementing business projects in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, including the planned construction of the North-South gas pipeline from Karachi to Lahore, on a bilateral basis," the statement said.

The proposed CPEC is about 3,000-kilometre long and will consist of highways, railways and pipelines that will connect China's Xinjiang province to the rest of the world through the Gwadar port in Pakistan. Considered to be a part of China's One Belt, One Road initiative, the USD 46 billion project covers Balochistan and Sindh provinces and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).