ISLAMABAD, FEB 19 (DNA) Foreign Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif on Monday left for Moscow on a four-day visit that aims at boost bilateral ties.

According to the foreign office, the minister is visiting Moscow at the invitation of Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov of the Russian Federation from 19-22 February 2018.

The trip comes in a situation that the US along with its allies were trying to place Pakistan on Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF) grey-list for allegedly not taking appropriate steps to curb money-laundering and terror financing.

During his stay in Moscow, Asif will hold official talks with his Russian counterpart. The two sides would deliberate upon the entire spectrum of bilateral relations as well as regional and international issues of mutual interest.

The visit would provide an opportunity to explore ways and means to further strengthen cooperation in political, economic, trade and investment, defense, education and cultural fields.

Russia enjoys a special place in our foreign policy. The relations between the two countries have been growing steadily in all fields.

Regular high-level exchanges between the two countries in the last few years is a manifestation of the mutual desire of both sides for translating political goodwill into a substantive and multidimensional partnership.

The two countries are also celebrating the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations this year.

The two Foreign Ministers had earlier met on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session in New York in September 2017.