ISLAMABAD – The Secretary General of Shanghai Cooperation Organization(SCO), Rashid Alimov called on Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi at PMHouse on Tuesday.
This is the first visit of the Organization’s secretary general afterPakistan’s full membership of SCO.
PM Abbasi thanked Mr Alimov for his support in steering the process ofPakistan’s membership of SCO and reiterated Pakistan’s commitment towards“Shanghai Spirit” of mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, respect forcultural diversity and pursuit of common development.
Pakistan shares with SCO and its Members, deep-rooted historical andcultural links and strong economic and strategic complementarities.Highlighting Pakistan’s active participation in all the SCO activities.
Abbasi appreciated that the SCO has established itself as a significant andinfluential player in the international arena by leveraging its comparativeadvantages. Its unique and pragmatic portfolio of economic, trade,development, security, and counter-terrorism cooperation distinguishes itfrom the other international organisations.
The PM expressed Pakistan’s support towards SCO’s connectivity initiativesand offered to connect the CPEC with SCO’s six approved routes which wouldgreatly enhance their vitality to become a conduit for linking Eurasianlandmass, China, Russia and Central Asia with the Arabian Sea.
He also expressed support for various SCO’s initiatives including theestablishment of SCO Development Bank, SCO Development Fund, SCO BusinessCouncil, SCO Interbank Consortium and SCO’s initiative on Small and MediumEnterprises.
While expressing support for the SCO Regional Anti-Terrorism Structure(RATS), the premier reiterated Pakistan’s strong opposition to the threeevils of terrorism, extremism, and separatism.
Alimov appreciated Pakistan’s active participation in all SCO activities.He stated that the inclusion of new members like Pakistan has greatlystrengthened SCO which has emerged as a true cross-regional andcross-continental organization playing a multifaceted role in the worldpolitics.
He said that “SCO can enormously benefit from Pakistan’s experience insuccessful combating of the menace of terrorism, narcotics, and drugs aswell as its economic strengths and connectivity potentials”.