ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s statement at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit conveyed Pakistan’s vision for the strategic direction of the regional security bloc in the face of global political and economic transformation, the Foreign Office said.
“Pakistan’s commitment to the principles and purposes of SCO Charter and to the ‘Shanghai Spirit’ as a core value of SCO was also reaffirmed,” Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, spokesperson for Foreign Office, said in a press statement issued on Saturday.
Prime Minister Sharif led Pakistan’s delegation to the meeting of the Council of Heads of State (CHS) of the organisation held in Samarkand on September 15-16.
The annual meeting is the highest forum in SCO where all the strategic decisions regarding the future direction of the organisation are taken. All eight heads of state/government of member nations attended the meeting.
“Participation in the Samarkand SCO Summit provided a significant opportunity to present Pakistan’s viewpoint on important national, regional and global issues. The Prime Minister’s comprehensive engagements with world leaders gathered in Samarkand served to further strengthen our bilateral relations with these countries,” Ahmed added.
In his statement at SCO, the prime minister presented a compelling case for collective action by member countries to combat the ravages of climate change.
He shared details of the human tragedy and the massive devastation caused by the climate calamity that has struck Pakistan in the shape of floods.
Sharif expressed deep appreciation for the support proffered by SCO leaders for relief and assistance to the people affected by the floods.
The SCO leaders expressed their support and solidarity with Pakistan at this critical time. The president of Uzbekistan on behalf of the Council of Heads of State of SCO appealed to the international community to support Pakistan in overcoming the devastating consequences of the floods.
On the situation in Afghanistan, the prime minister underlined that after 40 years of conflict, there was a real possibility to establish sustainable peace in that country. He called for a new compact between Afghanistan and the international community and the need for constructive engagement with the Afghan interim authorities.
Sharif also stressed the importance of inclusivity, respect for the human rights of all Afghans including women, and effective counterterrorism action.
He underscored Pakistan’s active role in maintaining regional peace and security, and in counter-terrorism through the SCO-RATS (Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure) platform.
He highlighted Pakistan’s contribution toward global counter-terrorism efforts and the immense sacrifices and economic losses it incurred over the decades.
On the sidelines of the summit, the prime minister held a number of meetings with leaders of China, Russia, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Iran, Azerbaijan, Belarus and Turkiye.
As SCO chair, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, the president of Uzbekistan, had invited as special guests President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkiye, President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan of Armenia and President Serdar Berdimukhamedov of Turkmenistan to the meeting.
Heads of SCO observer states — Iran, Mongolia and Belarus — also attended the summit.
SCO leaders adopted the Samarkand Declaration which articulated its collective stance on important global and regional issues. In addition, they also adopted four joint statements on climate change, food security, energy security and a separate statement on maintaining reliable international supply chains.
They also approved new initiatives including a “Comprehensive Action Plan for 2023-2027 on the implementation of the provisions of the Treaty on Long-Term Good-Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation; Concept for Cooperation of the SCO Member States in Developing Connectivity and Creating Efficient Economic and Transport Corridors; Regulations on the Honorary Title ‘Goodwill Ambassador of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’; Roadmap for Gradual Increase in the Share of National Currencies in Mutual Settlements of the SCO Member States”.
Moreover, four intergovernmental agreements on: Cooperation on the Development of Tourism; Cooperation in the Sphere of Trade in Services; MoU on Cooperation in Museum Matters; and Cooperation in Plant Quarantine were also signed at the meeting.
The participants also agreed on further expansion of SCO and approved the request of Belarus for full membership status as well as requests by Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Maldives and Myanmar as new dialogue partners.
