ISLAMABAD – “Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) – Challenges andOpportunities” seminar was held here on Tuesday to focus on theinternational environment, future projection with special emphasis onregional security dynamics and serving as the platform for Pakistan toportray what it has to offer to the region and the world.The seminar was arranged by the Center for Global and Strategic Studies(CGSS) to bring together the international guest speakers, diplomats,former ambassadors, government representatives, armed forces officers andexperts of foreign policy which discussed the various ways in which the SCOhas promoted regional connectivity.

The seminar also highlighted the significance of gaining full membershipfor Pakistan and the benefits, problems and solutions this membership holdsfor the country.

Lieutenant General Muhammad Zahir Ul Islam HI(M), (Retd) – Chairman CGSS inhis opening remarks said the SCO has emerged as a major player in regionaland global affairs.

He said the SCO has provided Pakistan an opportunity to improve itsrelations with the regional countries by facilitating trade through theGwadar Port, contributing to a regional solution to the Afghanistan issue,addressing its worsening energy crisis, as well as learning from andcontributing to the SCO’s Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS).

Pakistan is an ideally positioned country on the globe being at thecrossroad of Central Asia and South West Asia and South Asia, he added.Ambassador of People’s Republic of China to Pakistan Yao Jing presented hisspeech on “Strategic Role of China in Strengthening the SCO”.

He said in order to strengthen the SCO, firstly, there is need toconsolidate solidarity and coordination, secondly, all of the SCO membersare facing security challenges which needs joint efforts of the membercountries to tackle them. Thirdly, practical cooperation are needed andfourthly, people-to-people and cultural bonds are needed to be enhanced.And at last, openness and inclusiveness should be maintained.

Leading Expert, Center for Military-Political Studies, Moscow StateInstitute of International Relations, Russian Foreign Ministry, Russia, DrVladimir Kozin presented his speech on “Role of Russia in ShanghaiCooperation Organization: Challenges and Opportunities”.

He said the most acute challenge being faced by the SCO is that Russia andChina have been labelled as “long-standing strategic competitors of theUSA”, though both powers have defensive nuclear doctrines.

He said Russia is happy that its relationship with Pakistan is developingvery actively along all directions and it is strange to hear claims such as“DO MORE” from the US, because Pakistan has made formidable contribution towipe out the menace of terrorism.

Moscow is grateful to Islamabad for such tireless contribution and laterthis year Russia and Pakistan will conduct anti-terrorist exercises, headded.Deputy Director of the Center for Strategic Studies under the President,Republic of Tajikistan Dr Muminova Farida Mahmoodovna presented her speechon “Challenges and Opportunities for Regional Economic Cooperation inShanghai Cooperation Organization”.

She said even at the level of interaction between research structures, itis possible to promote economic cooperation. At least four themes includingfood security, water and energy issues, development of transportcommunications and transit potential production cooperation directions maybe of interest to all SCO countries.

She said a high level of support and trust between governments and theformation of common interests is required, adding that an institutionalmechanism is required for coordinating the activities of variousstakeholders. The priority direction of cooperation is not only trade andeconomic ties, but also the implementation of infrastructure projects andproduction cooperation.

Deputy General Secretary, One Belt One Road Center, Chinese Academy ofSocial Sciences, China Mr. Xu Wenhong presented his speech on “China’sStrategic Interests Viz-a-Viz Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO)”.

He said the China’s strategic focus in the region: security, economics,OBOR initiatives, geopolitical aspects and Afghanistan.

He gave five principles for peaceful coexistence namely mutual respect foreach other’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, mutual non-aggression,mutual non-interference in others internal affairs, equality andcooperation for mutual benefit and last but not the least peacefulco-existence.

He further talked about the China-Pakistan relationship within theframework of SCO is: All-Weather strategic partnership, Iron brothers andimportant pillar within the framework of SCO.

Former Foreign Secretary of Pakistan Ambassador Jalil Abbas Jilanipresented speech on “Pakistan’s Geostrategic Role in Shanghai CooperationOrganization”. He said that t he SCO binds us in a political and economicframework.

He said Pakistan has always been committed to regional connectivity and toact as a bridge particularly for the landlocked Central Asian states.Pakistanis a hub of geo economic activity culminating in the shape of beltand road initiative and its main artery under CPEC, he added.

He said the SCO has become a paradigm of global and regional cooperationwith great vitality and significant influence which serves as a model ofefficient cooperation by paying equal attention simultaneously to economicdevelopment and security cooperation.

Former High Commissioner of Pakistan to India, President Islamabad PolicyResearch Institute Ambassador Abdul Basit presented his speech on “ShanghaiCooperation Organization: India’s Perspective and Impact on BilateralRelations with Pakistan”.

He said that initially India was reluctant to join the SCO to as it wastrying to enhance its relationship with the US.However, India finally joined the SCO organization after 2014. The threemain objectives of India to join SCO are firstly, to participate in theregional connectivity.

Second, India thought that through SCO it can exert pressure on Pakistanfor providing transit to Afghanistan. Third the main objective of India isto achieve gains and benefits in the energy sector as it is an energydeficit state.

He further said India has failed to achieve its diplomatic objectivesthrough SAARC. Therefore, the focus of India has now been shifted towardsSCO.

Advisor to National University of Science and Technology (NUST), IslamabadAmer Hashmi presented his speech on “Geo-Economic Role of Pakistan in theEmerging Markets of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO)”.

He said playing a successful geo-economic role in the emerging markets ofSCO means Pakistan can utilize economic tools like trade, energy, andinvestment, infrastructure development to further its geopoliticalobjectives as stated before.

It is also an undeniable fact that the global economic center of gravityhas shifted to the vicinity of Pakistan with the peaceful development ofChina presenting an unprecedented geo-economic opportunity and geopoliticalchallenge to Pakistan, he added. – APP