Says SCO’s inclusive approach vital to address poverty, food security challenges
ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Thursday underscored the significance of Pakistan in providing a vital link between South Asia and Central and West Asia and onwards to Europe. Representing Pakistan at the 13th Asia-Europe Meeting Summit (ASEM13) being hosted virtually by Cambodia from 25-26 November 2021, the Foreign Minister highlighted several projects undertaken by Pakistan in cooperating with countries of the region, including China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
He urged ASEM members to strengthen connections between Asia and Europe in education, science and technology, trade, business, security, culture, infrastructure, and people-to-people contacts. The Asia-Europe Meeting is an informal dialogue forum between Asia and Europe, which addresses political, economic and social issues confronting the two regions and aims at strengthening their relationship in a spirit of mutual respect and equal partnership.
Leaders from around the world are discussing the important issues of climate change, 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, disaster risk reduction and management, connectivity, and the future of ASEM. The participants appreciated the ongoing efforts to tackle climate change and disaster management, and emphasized the need to focus attention on enhancing connectivity between Asia and Europe. Ideas were also expressed on how ASEM could tackle future challenges, while maintaining its unique informal nature. In their statements, the leaders also shared views on the current regional and international issues.
In his virtual address to the leaders at the SCO Council of Heads of Government meeting held in Nur Sultan, Kazakhstan Foreign Minister Qureshi said all member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) still faced multifaceted challenges of poverty, food security, and climate change, which could be addressed through an inclusive approach. He added SCO’s emphasis on cooperation and conflict resolution offered hope to humanity.
Prime Minister of host country Kazakhstan Askar Mamin, Secretary General SCO Vladimir Norov and heads of government of SCO member states and observers joined the meeting. Terming SCO a model of shared growth and prosperity, the foreign minister said it provided an attractive platform for inter-state cooperation in diverse fields including economy, security, connectivity and sustainable development.
FM Qureshi said regional security was a must for the realization of the collective vision for prosperity and economic growth of the region. In this context, stability in Afghanistan was of critical importance for all owing to the geographic compulsions and enduring ties to the people of Afghanistan. In the last few months, he said, Afghanistan had undergone a fundamental transformation as its people faced critical economic and humanitarian challenges.