Pakistan becomes permanent SCO member

UFA (Russia): Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif on Friday called for a strong regional collective response to confront the challenges of extremism, terrorism and drug trafficking as Pakistan became a permanent member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).
Addressing the 15th SCO Summit, the prime minister said the region faces a volatile geopolitical environment and Pakistan’s objectives of curbing extremism and enhancing border security were in line with those of the SCO.
He said the SCO provides a useful forum to Pakistan in promoting peace and stability in SouthAsia, Afghanistan and Central Asia.Cordial and mutually-beneficial economic relations with the SCO member states will be our foreign policy’s priority, the prime minister said.
“We believe that regional stability is the key to economic progress of nations,” he said and added that peace in Afghanistan and Central Asia was crucial to regional connectivity and trade cooperation.
He said that the SCO had major strengths of its own. The basic principles of its charter were sovereign equality of states, territorial integrity and mutual cooperation and security.“The spirit of SCO abhors hegemony and coercion in international affairs. It has a consensus-based decision-making process which instills confidence in its members.”
The prime minister said that the SCO partners have an ambitious agenda to achieve and called for ensuring regional stability and further economic integration to realise these goals.“We must work together to mitigate differences, resolve outstanding disputes and create a favourable environment for the betterment of our peoples. This is how the true Shanghai Spirit would be fully realised,” he said.
The prime minister termed India and Pakistan’s inclusion into the ambit of the grouping as a turning point in the history of the SCO.“I am honoured to represent my country at this prestigious forum and am

confident that SCO’s expansion would prove a watershed in the changing geopolitical landscape of the Eurasian belt,” the prime minister said.
He said Pakistan attaches great importance to the SCO full membership and said Pakistan shares with the SCO and its member states deep-rooted historical and cultural links and strong economic and strategic complementarities.
“Our interests and objectives are across a wide range of areas and issues,” he said.Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said Pakistan also offers critical overland and maritime routes for trade and energy connectivity within the SCO region and beyond.“It provides a natural link for the SCO member states to connect the Eurasian heartland with the Arabian Sea,” he said.
The prime minister said as an important member of SCO, Russia stands at the crossroads of Asia and Europe. He said President Putin’s recent initiative to integrate the Silk Road Economic Belt (SREB) with the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) will enhance the scope of economic outreach of the SCO member states.
Prime Minister Sharif said in the economic field, President Xi Jinping’s One Belt One Road initiative was a pioneering effort and said the blueprint of grand regional connectivity entails massive infrastructure and energy resource development with unparalleled economic dividends for future societies.
The prime minister also expressed gratitude to President Putin for the warm hospitality extended to him and his delegation.He also extended appreciation for Dmitry Mezentsev, Secretary General SCO, for his efforts to strengthen the organisation.
Meanwhile, Chinese President Xi Jinping said relations with Pakistan were very high on China’s agenda as it wanted close ties between the two countries.The Chinese president stated this in a meeting with Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif here on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit.
President Xi said China wanted to maintain close ties with Pakistan and was looking forward to President Mamnoon Hussain’s upcoming visit to China.He invited Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to the next SCO meeting in Beijing this year.
Prime Minsiter Nawaz Sharif thanked President Xi for the support China had extended to Pakistan in its effort to become a full member of the SCO.
He said the visit of President Xi and Chinese First Lady to Pakistan had won the hearts and minds of the Pakistani people. He said friendship with China is the cornerstone of Pakistan s foreign policy.
He appreciated President Xi’s personal commitment for the materialisation of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif reaffirmed Pakistan’s desire to build a positive and forward looking relationship with Afghanistan.
The prime minister expressed these views in a meeting with Afghanistan’s President Ashraf Ghani on the sidelines of SCO Summit.
Both the leaders greeted each other with great warmth indicative of the growing trust and confidence between them, a PM Office statement said.
The prime minister expressed satisfaction that the relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan were on an upward trajectory. He said perseverance was essential for anchoring cooperative relations between both the countries.
The two leaders expressed satisfaction on the progress made in the 7th July meeting between the Afghan government and Afghan Taliban to promote peace and reconciliation process.
President Ashraf Ghani appreciated the efforts of Pakistan in facilitating peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan and expressed the hope that this would lead to lasting peace and stability in the country.