Islamabad: Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari stressed need to address scourge of terrorism in all its manifestations including state terrorism. He expressed these views at 21st meeting of Council of Heads of Government (CHG) of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) virtually hosted in China.

CHG is second highest forum of SCO, where heads of government of member states exchange views and provide policy guidance on emerging regional and global issues in context of regional connectivity, economic integration as well as sociocultural and humanitarian cooperation.

Heads of the governments of China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan as well as representatives from SCO Observer States also attended meeting.

Bilawal outlined that achieving lasting peace and security in region was important for economic development. He went on to underline importance of sustained and practical engagement with Afghanistan in order to help Afghan people overcome humanitarian and economic crises afflicting their country. He said that enhancing economic and trade between SCO member states would build greater connectivity across region and help unlock political and economic potential of intra-SCO cooperation.

He also mentioned China-Pakistan Economic Corridor flagship project of Belt and Road Initiative-stressing that it supplemented SCO’s vision of shared prosperity through regional connectivity and integration. Bilawal then thanked SCO countries for expressing solidarity with and extending support for flood-affected people in Pakistan. He highlighted significance of collective action to combat far-reaching devastating impact of climate change and urged developed countries to fulfill their commitments on climate finance, which he said would help developing countries address climate change for meeting sustainable development goals.

Published in The Daily National Courier, November, 01 2022

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