- Xi terms Shehbaz ‘a person of pragmatism and efficiency’
- SCO endorse PM’s call for climate change plan for Pakistan
SAMARKAND/ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday met Chinese President Xi Jinping here wherein he appreciated the transformational impact of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) on Pakistan’s socio-economic development.
During the bilateral meeting took place on the sidelines of the annual meeting of the Council of Heads of State of Shanghai Cooperation Organization here, the prime minister also reaffirmed his government’s commitment to high quality development of CPEC.
Both the leaders reviewed the entire gamut of bilateral relations and exchanged views on important regional and international issues of mutual interest.
— Prime Minister's Office (@PakPMO) September 16, 2022
This was the prime minister’s first meeting with the Chinese president since assuming office in April 2022.
The interaction between the two leaders was marked by traditional warmth as well as exceptional mutual trust and understanding.
In his welcoming remarks, the Chinese president described Prime Minister Sharif as “a person of pragmatism and efficiency”. He also added that the prime minister was a leader with “a longstanding commitment to China-Pakistan friendship”.
Noting the enduring nature of China-Pakistan bilateral ties, the prime minister underlined that our ‘All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership’ and Iron-brotherhood had withstood the test of time.
He reaffirmed his personal resolve to take their bilateral relations to greater heights.
Prime Minister Sharif extended his best wishes to President Xi Jinping and the Communist Party of China for the forthcoming 20th CPC National Congress.
He underscored that the SCO provided an excellent forum to further their shared vision and mutual values into concrete plans for regional cooperation and integration.
The prime minister thanked President Xi, the government and the people of China for the generous and timely support to the flood affected people in Pakistan.
He said that the outpouring of sympathy and support from all quarters across China was touching and a true reflection of the “unique” friendship between China and Pakistan.
He condoled with President Xi over the tragic loss of life and devastation caused by the earthquake in Sichuan Province on September 5, 2022, emphasizing that the Government and people of Pakistan stood with China in the face of this natural calamity.
The prime minister briefed President Xi on his government’s policies for Pakistan’s sustained growth, industrial development, agricultural modernization, and regional connectivity.
Both leaders welcomed the signing of a Protocol to the Framework Agreement on ML-1 Railway Project.
Prime Minister Sharif reiterated Pakistan’s consistent and unwavering support to China on all issues of its core interest including Taiwan, Tibet, Xinjiang and Hong Kong.
He also thanked the Chinese government for support extended to Pakistan for its sovereignty and territorial integrity, FATF, national development, COVID-19 pandemic and other areas.
Sharing his views with President Xi on the international situation, the prime minister highlighted that challenges like climate change, health pandemics and growing inequalities could only be tackled through cooperation of all nations in accordance with the UN Charter.
He lauded President Xi’s visionary Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and Global Development Initiative (GDI), which called for collective action for sustainable development and win-win outcomes.
Prime Minister Sharif highlighted the serious human rights situation in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir and thanked China for its principled stand on the dispute.
The two leaders reaffirmed their resolve to building the Pakistan-China Community for Shared Future in the New Era.
The prime minister renewed his invitation to President Xi Jinping to undertake a state visit to Pakistan, underlining that the people of Pakistan were looking forward to accord a warm welcome to him.
While acknowledging the invitation, President Xi stated that he was looking forward to Prime Minister Sharif’s visit to China at an early date.
SCO leaders endorse call for climate change plan for Pakistan
The presidents of Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Iran, and Mongolia on Friday seconded the proposal of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for an action plan by the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) for Pakistan to overcome the impact of climate change.
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif interacts with Russian President Vladimir Putin during Shanghai Cooperation Organization Council of Heads of states in Samarqand, Uzbekistan pic.twitter.com/LuDccWWoJt
— Prime Minister's Office (@PakPMO) September 16, 2022
PM Sharif in his address at the Heads of State meeting of SCO had drawn the attention of the member states to the disaster Pakistan was facing as a result of climate change despite the country’s less than one percent contribution to carbon emissions.
President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev stressed that the proposal of the prime minister of Pakistan needed to be taken up at the level of the Organization.
Mirziyoyev, who hosted the SCO summit, urged the member states to help Pakistan overcome the catastrophic damage caused by flash floods.
Tajikistan’s President Emomali Rahmon, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, and President of Mongolia Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh fully endorsed the suggestion made by Prime Minister Sharif at the SCO platform.
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif departs to attend bilateral and SCO-CHS 2022 meetings in Congress Centre Samarqand, Uzbekistan pic.twitter.com/0Zaf9h5xk5
— Prime Minister's Office (@PakPMO) September 16, 2022
In his address, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called upon the member states of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) to come up with Pakistan-specific programmes on climate change as the country faced the devastating impact of the global natural phenomenon.
“This climatic injustice has befallen us despite the fact that our carbon emission is less than one percent,” the prime minister said.
The prime minister’s call to the SCO members came in the wake of the recent flash floods in Pakistan that wreaked havoc with the livelihood and infrastructure across the country.
He mentioned that Pakistan was braving the disaster of floods, where hill torrents and massive rains killed 1,400 people including 400 children while millions of houses were damaged partially or completely.
“I earnestly appeal to all of you that let the SCO stand up and take steps against this devastation through sustainable programmes,” he said.
PM Sharif said the country never faced such level of climate-induced catastrophe in its history that inflicted disaster upon human lives, infrastructure, livestock, and crops.
He stressed the dire need for assistance from the international community to help Pakistan overcome the problems in the wake of floods, including relief, rehabilitation, and control of water-borne diseases.
“In view of the massive disaster, I would be very honest to urge this forum to extend assistance to Pakistan and chalk out plans regarding climate change for our future generations,” he said.
Pakistan, Kazakhstan agree for early TTA finalization
Pakistan and Kazakhstan on Friday agreed for early finalization of bilateral Transit Trade Agreement and undertake expert-level studies to enhance cooperation in the energy sector.
The bilateral ties were discussed in a meeting between Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev here on the sidelines of the annual Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
Both the leaders emphasized facilitating people-to-people contacts through liberalized visa policies to boost trade, educational links, and investments. They also exchanged views on key regional and international issues.
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif meets President of Kazakhstan H.E Kassym-Jormat Tokayev on the sidelines of SCO-CHS Summit in Samarqand, Uzbekistan pic.twitter.com/WAHe6Ct8ng
— Prime Minister's Office (@PakPMO) September 16, 2022
They affirmed the commitment to enhance Pakistan-Kazakhstan relations in diverse fields particularly trade, investment and transportation links.
President Tokayev conveyed sympathies and condolences over the devastation caused by the unprecedented climate change induced floods in Pakistan.
The prime minister thanked the Kazakh president for the support and solidarity extended by Kazakhstan. He updated him about the colossal losses in terms of human lives and damage to crops, livestock and critical infrastructure, caused by climate change.
— Prime Minister's Office (@PakPMO) September 16, 2022
PM Shehbaz Sharif stressed the need for urgent global action to deal with the global threat.
He underlined that Pakistan was committed to comprehensively upgrade engagement with the Central Asian countries through its “Vision Central Asia” policy. He particularly emphasized the importance of connectivity and Pakistan’s pivotal position in providing the shortest access route to the sea.
The prime minister highlighted the significance of trans-Afghan railway project connecting Uzbekistan to Pakistan through Afghanistan. He expressed the desire to link up the existing Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan-Iran railway line to Pakistan.
To promote regional integration, the two leaders also decided to enhance connectivity through land and air routes.
Sustainable peace and security in Afghanistan would contribute to the regional peace, connectivity and progress, he added.
Both the leaders agreed to increase the frequency of high-level political exchanges.
The prime minister reiterated his invitation to President Tokayev to visit Pakistan. President Tokayev renewed his invitation to the prime minister for the next CICA Summit in Nur Sultan.
