Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to advance the Shanghai Cooperation Organization’s (SCO) development priorities, and said the country is always ready to collaborate with other member states for strengthening the organization.
He said this during a conversation with Shanghai Cooperation Organization Secretary-General Zhang Ming in Islamabad, as the two leaders met on the sidelines of the recently concluded meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of Government.
During the meeting, Shehbaz Sharif recalled Zhang’s earlier visit in July 2022 and thanked him for his efforts in helping Pakistan organize the summit. He expressed gratitude to Zhang for his dedication to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization while he served as its secretary-general, and wished him success in his future endeavors.
Zhang Ming received the prime minister’s remarks well and congratulated Pakistan for successfully hosting the summit. He praised Pakistan’s contributions to the organization’s activities and appreciated the leadership role Pakistan had played while chairing the meeting, placing emphasis on the importance of its constructive engagement.
Foreign Office spokesperson says Pakistan’s collaborative spirit is key to success at international level
Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said that leaders of all Shanghai Cooperation Organization member states had shared posts on the social media expressing their gratitude and praising Pakistan’s hospitality. “This is undoubtedly a moment of great pride for Pakistan,” she said, adding that the participants discussed regional cooperation and security.
She dubbed the event “a diplomatic victory for Pakistan”, and said that it reflected the country’s long-standing tradition of hospitality, as well as its commitment to promote strong relationships with regional countries. “This was a diplomatic effort on Pakistan’s part, and its positive reflection is evident,” she remarked.
She emphasized that the event proved that Pakistan can achieve significant international successes through cooperation and dedication when its institutions, public officials, the people, and the media unite. She added that India’s Minister for External Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar had also thanked Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and the people of Pakistan for the warm reception they provided. Such gestures proved the success of the event and showed Pakistan’s efforts in maintaining an atmosphere of cooperation during the summit, she said.
Moreover, she said the summit had thus been regarded as a major diplomatic achievement for Pakistan, with praise coming from multiple quarters. To a question, the Foreign Office spokesperson said that economic issues and the common challenges confronting the region were discussed at the summit.
She said that since most of the SCO members states are developing nations, international developments are impacting them significantly. “In recent years, these countries have faced setbacks due to supply chain disruptions, which have been affected by unilateral actions and global trade regulations,” she said.
She concluded by saying that it was crucial for developing countries to unite, create a unified action plan, and contribute positively in this regard.