Russian Prime Minister Yevgeny Primakov during a meeting with his visiting Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif underlined Russia's readiness to participate in the efforts to stabilise the situation in South Asia and in improving relations between the states of the region, Itar Tass news agency reported.

The agency quoted Primakov as saying that during the talks Pakistan requested Russia to "activate its participation in peace making efforts in South Asian region."

"We no doubt would respond to this," Primakov told a joint press conference with Sharif after their talks.

"We have agreed to work together for achieving enduring peace and stability in the region," Sharif, the first Pakistani premier to visit Russia in 25 years, said adding Pakistan sees Russia as a "stabilising factor" in Central and South Asia.

Primakovsaid Russia and Pakistan were interested in "improving and advancing" their relations as the international situation has changed at the global level and not all the changes were positive.

"That is why the relations between Russia, Pakistan, China and India have a great importance for the stability and security, specially in the south of Asia," the Russian premier said.

Primakov during his visit to New Delhi last year had proposed a strategic triangle between Russia, India and China.

"Russia is interested the nuclear weapons states, which have conducted nuclear blasts, join the documents banning proliferation of the nuclear weapons and stop nuclear tests," the Russian premier said.

He was obviously referring to the nuclear tests conducted by India and Pakistan last year.

Primakov and Sharif addressed the joint press conference in the Russian White House to which Moscow-based Indian print media was denied access by the Russian Government Press Service on the grounds that it was "only a photoopportunity."

Russia and Pakistan also signed an inter-governmental agreement on trade and economic cooperation to replace the earlier trade pact signed with the ex-Soviet Union in 1956.

Pakistan's nuclear and missile programmes, Kashmir problem, Kosovo crisis and the situation in Afghanistan were among the issues discussed by the two leaders, Itar Tass said.

Sharif arrived here on a three-day official visit on Monday. He is scheduled to call on President Boris Yeltsin on Wednesday.