Pakistan ambassador to China expectant on SCO
- By Gong Yingchun
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E-mail China.org.cn, June 4, 2018
Pakistan ambassador to China Masood Khalid praised the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) as a viable intergovernmental mechanism which enables its member states to discuss regional and international issues of common concern and to promote cooperation between them.
He made the remarks in an interview with China.org.cn ahead of the 18th SCO summit which will be held from June 9-10 in Qingdao, a coastal city in east China's Shandong province.
"The SCO has been able to evolve a legal framework which gives an enabling environment to promote cooperation between the member states," the ambassador said.
He also highlighted the importance of the SCO by saying that it has become the world's largest regional international organization-- representing almost half of the world's population and over 20 percent of global GDP.
This is the first time for Pakistan to attend the SCO summit as a full member after it joined the SCO last year. "This is an important milestone for Pakistan," Ambassador Khalid said, adding that Pakistan will strengthen its efforts to promote the objectives of the SCO.
Regarding the contribution that Pakistan will make to the SCO, he noted that the country will work together with other SCO member states to promote SCO ideas, programs and policies; strengthen economic and trade ties; and boost cooperation on the areas regarding communication, transportation, finance, education, sports and tourism.
He also mentioned Pakistan's intentions to be involved further in the Belt and Road Initiative. He noted that Pakistan is reaching out to other SCO countries on practical cooperation regarding transportation systems and visa policies in a bid to realize broader and closer interactions between trading communities, students, scholars and the media.
As for the future, Ambassador Khalid expressed his confidence that the SCO will play a more important role in promoting regional stability and security, and it will become not only an effective platform for combating terrorism and dealing with other common challenges but also a viable platform to overcome those challenges.
"I'm confident that SCO will become more important," he said. "It will continue to develop in a direction which is in our collective and common interests," he added.
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