ISLAMABAD, Nov 03 (INP-WealthPK): Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has said the Shanghai Cooperation Organization’s (SCO) mission of achieving shared prosperity via regional connectivity and integration was significantly strengthened by the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
CPEC, the flagship project of the Belt and Road Initiative, would build greater connectivity across the SCO region and help unlock the political and economic potential of intra-SCO cooperation, he said, addressing the 21st Meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of Government (CHG) Meeting in Beijing.
The meeting was virtually hosted by China, the current Chair of the SCO-CHG. The heads of the government of China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, as well as representatives from the SCO Observer States, attended the meeting, according to a press statement received by WealthPK.
The foreign minister emphasized the importance of enhancing economic and trade cooperation between SCO member states.
Reaffirming the importance Pakistan attaches to the SCO, Bilawal Bhutto highlighted actions taken by Pakistan under various agreements and projects for advancing regional cooperation based on principles enunciated in the “Shanghai Spirit”. Sharing Pakistan’s experience of several successful initiatives to alleviate poverty, he announced that the first meeting of the SCO Special Working Group on Poverty Alleviation would be held in Islamabad in December.
Thanking the SCO countries for expressing solidarity with and extending support to the flood-affected people in Pakistan, the foreign minister highlighted the significance of collective action to combat the far-reaching devastating impact of climate change. He urged developed countries to fulfil their commitments to climate finance to help developing countries address climate change for meeting sustainable development goals.
Reflecting on the importance of achieving lasting peace and security in the region for economic development, Bilawal Bhutto stressed the need to address the scourge of terrorism in all its manifestations, including state terrorism.
He also underlined the importance of sustained and practical engagement with Afghanistan in order to help the Afghan people overcome the humanitarian and economic crises afflicting their country.
The CHG is the second highest forum of the SCO, where Heads of Government of Member States exchange views and provide policy guidance on emerging regional and global issues in the context of regional connectivity, economic integration, as well as socio-cultural and humanitarian cooperation among the member states, the press statement said.
