ISLAMABAD: Acting Chinese Ambassador Zhao Lijian has stated that Pakistan’s active role in the implementation of the framework of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) reflected its eagerness to promote regional connectivity and trade and resolving all regional issues under the ‘Shanghai Spirit’.
Lijian, while addressing the audience at an Iftar dinner hosted by the Chinese embassy said, “Pakistan recently hosted the first meeting of legal representatives of Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) of the SCO which would go a long way in implementing the SCO framework.”
Earlier, Pakistan hosted a three-day SCO-RATS meeting in Islamabad – its first event ever since the country became a member of SCO in June last year along with India.
Legal experts from the eight member states, including India, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Pakistan, as well as representatives of the SCO and RATS Executive Committee participated in the meeting.
The aim of the moot was to discuss terrorist threats being faced by the region and strategies to enhance counter-terrorism cooperation between the SCO member states.
The acting Chinese ambassador said, “The recent SCO Summit hosted by China in Qingdao was a major success where the heads of SCO member-states held bilateral meetings to further the message of peace and connectivity under the Shanghai Spirit.”
“The bilateral meeting between President Xi Jinping and President Mamnoon Hussain held on the sideline of the summit is to maintain the momentum in their bilateral ties.”
Lijian further said that President Xi reiterated China’s commitment to work jointly with Pakistan to address the common socio-economic challenges, through Belt and Road initiative and China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
“China plans to host around 160 meetings under the SCO throughout the year which would greatly help the cause of SCO,” said the Chinese envoy, lauding positive coverage of SCO Summit in Pakistani media.
Zhao Lijian said that China-Pakistan friendship is a national consensus in the country and promotion of this bond is a great service in cementing the friendship.
“Chinese Embassy is indebted to the media for their positive role in the promotion of the decades’ old strategic Sino-Pak bond through positive reporting. Pakistani media has always been on the forefront to projecting China’s position on various regional and international issues in their true perceptive,” he added.
Lastly, the acting Chinese ambassador said that Pakistani and Chinese media’s partnership will grow with the passage of the time for giving support to the on-going efforts of ensuring a better future for their people. He assured that Chinese embassy will extend its all possible cooperation to Pakistani media in promoting the shared future and common development.