Advisor to Prime Minister on Foreign and Security Affairs Sartaj Aziz on Thursday said the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) has a pivotal role in promoting regional peace and stability.
Speaking at an international conference entitled “SCO’s Role in Regional Stability: Prospect of Its Expansion” organized by Islamabad Policy Research Institute, the Advisor said the role of SCO countries will gain significance in the wake of withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan in 2014.
He said SCO member countries are promoting regional cooperation on the basis of mutual interests and benefits. Sartaj Aziz will lead Pakistan to next summit of the SCO on September 13 in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. He said the summit will be an opportunity to share perspectives on the regional situation. At present Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan are members of the SCO while Pakistan, Afghanistan, Mongolia and Iran have observer status and Turkey, Sri Lanka and Belarus are dialogue partners. Aziz said SCO forum will help prepare strategies for meeting requirements of energy deficit countries by the energy surplus countries.
He said quarter of the world population is represented in the SCO, a security organisation, which has presence of giants like China and Russia and states which provide market access to the landlocked countries.
SCO members jealously guard their independence and their strength is mutual trust and they have taken steps to develop cooperation in political, economic, commercial, trade, investment, environment protection, transportation and energy sectors. SCO members also succeeded in endeavours to expand cooperation in finance, banking and in establishing currency settlement mechanisms, he noted. He said the SCO has taken a number of effective steps and created institutional arrangements to enhance regional security and stability. The SCO is faced with challenges of achieving economic development and addressing the security challenges, Aziz said adding SCO’s role is vital to counter terrorism, extremism, drug trafficking and organised crime.
He referred to Pakistan China economic corridor and TAPI energy projects as his country’s efforts to expand cooperation with neighbouring and regional countries. Talking about relevance of SCO, he said founding members of the organisation Russia and China succeeded in resolving 3000 km long border dispute in a short time.
The adviser called for united and consolidated efforts through regional approaches to combat the menace of terrorism. He said Pakistan backs the Afghan-led and Afghan owned-peace process in Afghanistan. Pakistan is committed to continue its engagement with regional countries in consonance with the spirit of SCO charter, Aziz added.
