BEIJING: Pakistan has assured that its militarty will actively participatein the defence and security cooperation at the regional and internationallevel within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).
This assurance was given by a Pakistan’s representative while attendinghere the recent meeting of leaders of the internationalmilitary cooperation departments of defence ministries of the SCO memberstates.
Wu Qian, spokesman for the Chinese Ministry of National Defense told thereporters that Pakistan as a new member of the SCO wishes to play itsleading role to improve the security situation in the region.
The meeting reviewed and summarized the military activities jointly heldwithin the SCO framework in 2017 and discussed activities to be held underthe SCO framework in 2018.
The spokesman added the convening of this meeting is of great significancefor the SCO link> to strengthen its internalsolidarity and coordination after the enlargement of the organization andpromote the defence and security cooperation of the SCOlink> in the new situation.
Next, the defense ministries and armed forces of the SCOlink> member states will continue to implementthe Shanghai Spirit featuring mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality,consultation, respect for diversified civilization and pursuit for commondevelopment, firmly maintain the regional security and stability, furtherimprove the defense and security cooperation mechanism, so as to makepositive contribution to the building of a shared community featuring peaceand stability, development and prosperity.
Replying to a question, the spokesman said, foreign critics not to wastetime drumming up the ‘China militarylink> threat’hype.
‘Some people just cannot accept the development oflink>China link> andits armed forces. They speculate about the so-called ‘China militarylink> threat’,’ said Wu Qian, spokesman forthe Ministry of National Defense, at a press conference. ‘They shouldadjust this ‘sick mentality’.’
He was responding to a question about a US consultancy’s assessment oflink>China link> ‘sgrowing influence as a major risk world is facing in 2018.
The growth of link>Chinalink> is a matter of fact and will onlycontribute to promoting world peace, Wu said.
‘It does not matter whether people speculate on, sabotage, or contain[China]. All are waste of time,’ he said. – Agencies