Islamabad (TDI): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday stressed the expansion of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) adding that peace in Afghanistan is key to pave way for regional connectivity.
He was addressing the 23rd meeting of the Council of the Heads of Government (CHG) of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Islamabad while chairing it.
“Flagship projects, like the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), and the International, North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) should be expanded, focusing on developing road, rail, and digital infrastructure, that enhances integration and cooperation, across the region,” he said in address to the participants.
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He said that the SCO represents the collective voice of over 40% of the global population, rooted in the Shanghai spirit.
He emphasized the need to promote a shared vision of an economically integrated region and to invest in connectivity projects, urging that these should not be viewed through a political prism.
The PM dubbed the summit as a testament to the strength of collaboration among diverse nations. He drew attention of the participants toward the potential to drive socio-economic progress, enhance regional peace and stability, and improve citizens’ quality of life.
“We are at a historic moment of transition where sweeping transformations are reshaping the global, social, political, economic and security landscap,” he added.
Realizing importance of a stable Afghanistan, he urged the international community to step forward with urgent humanitarian support for Afghanistan.
He also called upon Afghan interim government to ensure that their soil is not misused for terrorism against its neighbors by any entity.
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The premier said that Afghanistan, by virtue of its contiguity with the region, presents an invaluable opportunity for trade and transit, benefiting all SCO member states.
“A stable Afghanistan, is not only desirable, but essential, to fully realising these opportunities.”
On crises in the Middle East, he said the international community bears the responsibility of ensuring an immediate and unconditional ceasefire leading to the establishment of State of Palestine on the basis of pre-1967 borders with Al Quds as its capital.
Turning to the potential of SCO he hoped for better future. He called the SCO platform a “beacon of multilateralism”.
He also praised the Pakistan Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry for its collaborative efforts with SCO External Ministers in Islamabad, fostering productive dialogues to strengthen economic ties.
He commended the SCO Interbank Union and the SCO Consortium of Economic Analytic Think Tanks for their roles in addressing banking challenges and researching economic and trade dynamics, respectively.
The PM congratulated Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin on assuming the chairmanship of the Council and announced that the next CHG meeting would be held in Russia next year. He also assured the Russian prime minister of Pakistan’s fullest support.
Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, Iranian First Vice-President Mohammad Reza Aref, and Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, and other leaders attended the summit.
Leaders from Mongolia and Turkmenistan also attended the conference as a observers and special guest.
Key figures at the summit also include SCO Secretary-General Zhang Ming and other prominent officials from various SCO bodies.
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