Pakistan’s entry into Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) as a full member will enhance Sino-Pak cooperative partnership on a regional level to tackle the key issues like counter-terrorism, reported Chinese media on Friday.
The media that gave wide coverage to the meeting of President Xi Jinping and President Mamnoon Hussain held in Tashkent on Thursday reported China had been on the forefront for seeking Pakistan’s role in the organisation as a full member.
According to the Chinese media, the country’s top leadership played an active role in elevating Pakistan’s position in the organisation. It was stated at all levels that Pakistan is a most relevant country in the region for addressing the objectives laid down in the chatter of the SCO.
While pleading the Pakistan’s case, the Chinese leadership also acknowledged the country’s major contribution to the war against terrorism and extremism.
It was hoped that Pakistan and China will now work more closely at the platform of SCO while taking a common position on important regional issues, like counter-terrorism and socio-economic development under the ‘One belt one road’ concept.
Read more: Pak, China agree to work together for regional peace, stability
Chinese Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs Li Huilai told a media delegation here last week that Pakistan’s entry into SCO will enhance the organisation’s status and influence to effectively address security issues, and giving a boost to the socio-economic partnership among the member countries.
Pakistan, he said is an important member of the region and its recent role as SCO’s observer has been highly positive.
The minister said China has been supporting the expansion of the organisation and Pakistan will be joining the organisation at a time when it was celebrating its 15th anniversary.
Pakistan, he said is China’s close friend and partner and they are looking forward to working together at the regional fora, pushing forward their common goals relating peace, security and development.
LI Huilai elaborated China’s contribution and support to SCO and said it was done for a win-win situation and mutual benefit.
They, he said laid special focus on upholding Shanghai’s spirit that aimed at achieving common prosperity and promoting socio-economic collaboration and cultural exchanges.
China being the founding member of the SCO, the Minister said, is always committed to promoting better regional connectivity and economic development which could ensure better living conditions for the people.
The concept of the organisation is to further promote an economy of member States and enhance cooperation among them in all fields of common interest. China, being the second largest economy of the World has the maximum foreign reserves which had been a source of a better life not only for the Chinese cities but the people of relevant countries as a whole, he added.
Meanwhile, General Secretary of SCO Rashid Alimov said here at a news conference that Pakistan and India are going to become its full members that will make the organisation powerful to handle regional conflicts and to address their socio-economic issues like energy. It has already decided principally to accept the two countries as their full members.
Earlier, they were enjoying Observers status. Welcoming the entry of the two countries into SCO’s net, he said it was a major development in the history of SCO.
Pakistan and India, he hoped would come up with positive up with an open mind, making a positive contribution to achieving the organisation’s charter.
Both the countries had the history of their relation to common culture and common values. Their participation as the full member will be a good omen and a positive sign for the organisation’s future growth.
Asked about the timeline of their formally joining the SCO, he said the process may take six months since both of them have to meet certain pre-requisite. Their Parliaments, have to adopt all documents of the SCO as required under its laws. The main document is titled ‘Good neighbourhood’.