SCO held up as driver of progress in region

Grouping also vital for security, even beyond borders, Pakistan envoy says

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization plays an important institutional role in formulating regional and global policies, as well as ensuring security and sustainable development for the countries of the region and beyond, said Moin ul Haque, Pakistan's ambassador to China.

The 22nd meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, was concluded on Friday.

Haque said that from Pakistan's perspective, it has been an important summit, especially at a time when the country's focus has shifted from a geopolitical to a geoeconomics vision that is centered on economic security and the social wellbeing of the people.

"Pakistan would also like to see the SCO giving more impetus to the climate change agenda," he said. "The recent floods in Pakistan have brought in its wake unimaginable devastation to life and property. This establishes the need and urgency for us to join hands in addressing climate change.

"We would therefore aim to continue our ongoing cooperation for regional connectivity and pursue the implementation of the SCO socioeconomic agenda."

Haque said the world is passing through extraordinary and challenging times. There are geopolitical tensions underpinned by power politics. Peace and stability still remain elusive in many parts of the world, the ambassador said. Many economies, developing countries in particular, are grappling with development gaps, trade distortions, a lack of capital, social inequalities and the degradation of agricultural lands and forests. The pandemic further aggravated these problems.

He urged the global community to enhance international cooperation and solidarity, coordinate efforts and pool resources, and strive for a global future that is shared, safer, equitable and fair. "Pakistan shares President Xi Jinping's assertion that 'no global problem can be solved by any one country alone. There must be global action, global response and global cooperation'."

Rich experience

With its growing number of member states, observers and dialogue partners, the SCO has been transformed into an important regional organization in a short span of time. And this progress stands as "a testimony to its appeal, its robust agenda and its promise to promote regional peace and stability, socio-economic cooperation and the overall well-being of the people", the diplomat said.

Haque said the organization's rich experience in multilateral cooperation is opening up new space and providing new opportunities for building a developmental realm for open, mutually beneficial and equitable cooperation in the Eurasian region.

"These developments enhance the important institutional role of the SCO in formulating regional and global policies, and ensuring security and sustainable development for countries of the region and beyond," he said.

Almost all SCO member states have been involved in the Belt and Road Initiative and thus constitute an intercontinental bridge, ensuring the connectivity of the Eurasian region and its external space. They can therefore play an important role in creating useful linkages, trade corridors and logistical routes to facilitate exchange of goods and services, he said.

The ambassador said the SCO has attached, over the years, great importance to connectivity and cooperation. During the SCO Dushanbe Summit in September 2021, the leaders emphasized the need to efficiently use the transit transport potential of the SCO, build regional transit transport corridors, implement large-scale projects, and promote transport connectivity in the region.

"Through relevant practical measures, the Eurasian region is forming a broader, mutually beneficial and equal new model of cooperation that complies with the norms of international law and fully takes into account the interests of all countries," Haque said.

"In this way, the SCO is paving the way to build an ideal platform for bilateral and multilateral connectivity projects within the Eurasian region."

chenyingqun@chinadaily.com.cn