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Pakistan Pivotal for Connectivity among SCO States
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SCO Ministers hold the 23rd meeting of the Council of External Trade and Economy Ministers of the SCO Member States in Islamabad, Pakistan on 12 September 2024
- By: Muhammad Arif, Editor NSN.Asia
Islamabad: Pakistan’s role is pivotal for promoting connectivity among SCO countries for bolstering trade links, boosting cultural exchanges and creating economic prosperity as Pakistan takes several connectivity initiatives under CPEC including ML1, a vital railway line linking Kabul with Karachi port and Gwadar port on the Arabia sea trade routes.
Regional connectivity was one of the key themes of deliberations SCO Ministers held in Pakistan’s capital city Islamabad as they gathered for the 23rd meeting of the Council of External Trade and Economy Ministers of the SCO Member States in a hybrid format.
SCO Ministers discussed ways to bolster regional cooperation for enhancing trade, advancing sustainable development and promoting connectivity among SCO countries for enhancing economic prosperity in the region.
The SCO Secretariat delegation was headed by SCO Deputy Secretary General Sohail Khan.
In his address, Sohail Khan noted the importance of implementing the decisions of the Astana Summit to achieve practical results of cooperation in the economic track.
He also emphasised that the effective resolution of economic issues in the SCO space requires active involvement of the business community.
The sides exchanged views on the prospects for deepening trade and economic cooperation among the SCO member states, including in the context of preparations for the next meeting of the Heads of Government (Prime Ministers) Council to be held in Islamabad in October.
During the meeting, the participants presented reports on the activities of the SCO Business Council and the Consortium of SCO Economic Think Tanks.
They signed the following documents: Framework for Cooperation of the SCO Member States in the Sphere of Creative Economy Development, the Concept of Cooperation between Trade Promotion Organisations of the SCO Member States and the Concept of Establishing an Economic Preference Base.
The joint approaches of the authorised agencies of the SCO member states to promoting economic cooperation and mutual trade interests have been recorded in the Ministerial Statement on Fair Trade and Sustainable Development adopted as a follow-up to the meeting.
They signed the following documents: Framework for Cooperation of the SCO Member States in the Sphere of Creative Economy Development, the Concept of Cooperation between Trade Promotion Organisations of the SCO Member States and the Concept of Establishing an Economic Preference Base.
The joint approaches of the authorised agencies of the SCO member states to promoting economic cooperation and mutual trade interests have been recorded in the Ministerial Statement on Fair Trade and Sustainable Development adopted as a follow-up to the meeting.
As Chair of SCO Council of Heads of Government (CHG) since 26 October 2023, Pakistan has hosted “Conference on Transport Connectivity for Regional Prosperity” on 22 November 2023, and the expert-level meeting of the Special Working Group on Poverty Alleviation entitled “Leveraging Digital Technologies to Enhance Social SafetyNets in SCO Member States” on 06 December 2023.
During 2024, Pakistan will be hosting a Meeting of the Council of Heads of Government (Prime Ministers) of the SCO Member States as well as a Meeting of Ministers of the SCO Member States Responsible for Foreign Economic and Foreign Trade Activities in Islamabad. In addition to these two high-level meetings, Pakistan will be coordinating several other meetings, which fall under the mandate of SCO CHG.
SCO is an important platform for taking the vision of Eurasian connectivity to the next level. Pakistan’s location at the crossroads of South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East makes it an ideal trade conduit. Investing in our collective connectivity capacities is crucial to advancing our shared vision for an economically integrated region.
Pakistan is committed to the ‘Shanghai Spirit’ that stands for mutual trust and respect for shared prosperity and development. Shanghai Spirit anchors our collective efforts in the face of great transformation in the geo-political and geo-economic arenas.SCO represents the collective voice and aspirations of over 40% of the global population.
