ISLAMABAD – Pakistan, Russia and China have formed an unofficial bloc onthe sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Qingdao,vowing to work together in the coming years, diplomatic sources said.
President Mamnoon Hussain, who represented Pakistan at the SCO Council ofHeads of State meeting, met with Russian President Vladimir Putin on thesidelines of Qingdao summit on Sunday. He had earlier held a bilateralmeeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
A foreign ministry statement issued after the meeting said: “The leadersdiscussed matters of mutual interest including bilateral, contemporaryregional and global issues. Both leaders agreed that relations havestrengthened. Trade, energy, security, culture, education andpeople-to-people contact were identified as avenues for enhanced futurecooperation.”
It added: “The leaders agreed that the bilateral trade between the twonations has tremendous potential. They agreed to work together to furtherenhance economic ties and increase the trade volume.” An almost identicalstatement was issued after Hussain’s meeting with Jinping.
Senior officials at the foreign ministry told The Nation that the two majormeetings, along with other interactions with the SCO leaders, had been‘very positive’.
One official said: “Russia and China have supported our efforts for peaceand have pledged to help us. The two are firmly behind us. They alsosupport our point of view on Afghanistan.”
He said: “The two powers have promised to help us in resolving the issueswith India. Russia will use its influence (on India).”
Another official said the unanimity of views among Pakistan, Russia andChina could be called an ‘unofficial bloc’ for peace in the region. “Thisalliance will work together in the coming years,” he said.
Addressing the SCO summit, President Mamnoon Hussain unveiled a five-pointroadmap to achieve durable peace, development and stability in the regionthrough enhanced connectivity, shared prosperity, trade and people topeople contacts.
Spelling out the roadmap of priorities, the president said trust buildingwas pivotal to achieve lasting peace and stability in the region, besideshelping generate economic activity and enhance regional trade.
He viewed that the development projects should not be viewed though amyopic geopolitical angle. He said the countries should wholeheartedlysupport all regional development and connectivity projects including theBelt and Road Initiative and its flagship project, the China-PakistanEconomic Corridor.
By resolutely following the guiding principles of Shanghai Spirit of shareddevelopment and prosperity, the SCO countries should strive to alleviatepoverty, support weaker economies of the region and combat terrorism andextremism. SCO Development Bank and Fund could contribute to this endeavor,he added.
Mamnoon told the summit that SCO Business Council would help promotebusiness-to-business contacts in various sectors. similarly, they shouldexplore the possibility of introducing a SCO visa regime for businessmen,he added.
He told the international gathering that the improvement of law and ordersituation in Pakistan over the past few years had provided a secureenvironment for investment and business.
Contrary to the global economic trends, he said, Pakistan’s economy hadachieved great economic successes resulting in energy production andhighest GDP growth rate of last decade this year.