BEIJING: Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari  said China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is significant in supplementing vision of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation aimed at ensuring shared prosperity through regional connectivity and integration.

Addressing at 21st Meeting of Council of Heads of Government (CHG) of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of Government Meeting in Beijing, he said flagship project of Belt and Road Initiative would build greater connectivity across SCO region and help unlock political and economic potential of intra-SCO cooperation.

Meeting was virtually hosted by China, as current Chair of SCO-CHG. Heads of government of China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan as well as representatives from SCO Observer States attended meeting. Bilawal emphasised importance of enhancing economic and trade cooperation between SCO member States. Reaffirming importance Pakistan attaches to SCO, he highlighted actions taken by Pakistan under various agreements and projects for advancing regional cooperation based on principles enunciated in “Shanghai Spirit.” He announced that first meeting of SCO Special Working Group on Poverty Alleviation would be held in Islamabad in December.

Thanking SCO countries for expressing solidarity with and extending support for flood-affected people in Pakistan. He urged developed countries to fulfill their commitments on climate finance to help developing countries address climate change for meeting sustainable development goals. He stressed need to address scourge of terrorism in all its manifestations, including state terrorism.

He underlined importance of sustained and practical engagement with Afghanistan in order to help Afghan people overcome humanitarian and economic crises afflicting their country.

Published in The Daily National Courier, November, 02 2022

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