Pakistan will work with the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) member states to maintain regional peace, spread shared prosperity and defeat terrorism, President Asif Ali Zardari said on Wednesday.
Addressing the SCO summit at its 10th anniversary in the capital of Kazakhstan, Zardari said, “Pakistan looks forward to working together with the SCO countries for achieving shared prosperity and peace.” He said Pakistan had made great sacrifices in the fight against terrorism, which posed a common threat to the region. “Pakistan is committed to combating terrorism, extremism and separatism,” Zardari said, adding, “Similarly, drug trafficking and production is not only harming our people but also fuelling militancy and terrorism. These are serious threats to the security and wellbeing of our societies.”
He said Pakistan looked forward to enhancing its cooperation with the SCO to eliminate terrorism from the region. Earlier, during a meeting on the sidelines of the SCO summit, President Zardari and Tajik President Emomali Rahmon agreed to expand economic ties by expediting work on the current development projects jointly undertaken by the two countries. The two leaders pledged to intensity joint efforts to increase the volume of trade between the two countries. Sharing views on bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual interest, they discussed the prospects of starting more projects in energy, banking, transportation and communication sectors.
President Zardari also met Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. The two expressed determination to continue close collaboration to further regional peace and stability. The two leaders held a fruitful discussion on bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual concern. They said in the spirit of good brotherly and neighbourly relations, Pakistan and Iran would explore new opportunities of economic cooperation.
