PM Shehbaz calls for enhancing regional cooperation, connectivity

KARACHI: Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif in his welcome address at the opening ceremony of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit, called for enhancing regional cooperation and connectivity which is necessary for sustainable development.

The formal proceedings of the 23rd meeting of the Council of the Heads of Government (CHG) of the member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) started here on Wednesday with a galaxy of regional leaders in attendance to discuss multisectoral cooperation.

Being held at the Jinnah Convention Center, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is chairing the session as the current chair of  CHG meeting will discuss ongoing cooperation in economy, trade, environment, and socio-cultural linkages.

Prime Minister said it is an honor for Pakistan to hold the Shanghai Cooperation Organization meeting. The SCO countries account for 40 percent of the world’s population and we have to move forward together for stability and prosperity.

He said that “We have to provide better quality of life and facilities to our people, I am sure that the fruitful discussion in the meeting will yield far-reaching results, we are facing change and evolution in the global scenario, the current situation requires collective action”.

Shahbaz Sharif said that the moot will provide an opportunity to promote relations with the member countries and we have to move forward by utilizing collective wisdom. He said Pakistan wants peace and stability in the region, efforts are necessary to promote trade relations.

Prime Minister said that the international community should focus on humanitarian aid in Afghanistan and the use of Afghan land for terrorism must be stopped. He said Pakistan wants a peaceful, stable and prosperous Afghanistan.

He said that attention needs to be paid to the fields of tourism, connectivity, green belt, poverty is not an economic problem but also a moral problem. He said measures to eradicate poverty from the region must be prioritized.

He further said that we need economic stability for a common future and threats from climate change are challenges. He said “We have to work together to deal with natural disasters and added that ‘Belt and Road’ is an important project for regional development.

The participating leaders will also adopt important organizational decisions to further enhance cooperation among SCO member states and approve the budget of the Organization.

The leaders from the SCO member states attending the summit. Besides, Mongolia is participating in the summit as an Observer State being represented by Prime Minister Oyun-Erdene Luvsannamsrai and Turkmenistan as a Special Guest represented by Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers Rashid Meredov.

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Among other dignitaries attending the moot include SCO Secretary-General Zhang Ming, Director of Executive Committee SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) Ruslan Mirzayev, Chairman of the Board of SCO Business Council Atif Ikram Shaikh and Chairman of the Council of SCO Interbank Union Marat Yelibayev.