ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The Deputy Chairman Planning Commission Sartaj Aziz on Tuesday said Pakistan was ready to expand mutually beneficial trade, economic cooperation and connectivity in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) region.
In a meeting with the SCO Secretary General Rashid Alimov in Islamabad, Sartaj Aziz said Pakistan encouraged trade and transit through its territory as the government was upgrading infrastructure, roads, railways and ports as Pakistan was open to become conduit for linking Eurasian landmass, China, Russia and Central Asia with the Arabian Sea.
Sartaj Aziz said the connectivity between China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and SCO would further enhance economic cooperation among the member states.
“Special Economic Zones along the length of the Corridor would spur growth and economic opportunities for the entire region,” he said.
The Deputy Chairman Planning Commission said “Shanghai Spirit” as enshrined in the SCO Charter and the Treaty on long-term neighborliness, friendship and cooperation served to promote their shared vision of mutual trust, benefit, equality, consultation, respect for cultural diversity and pursuit of common development.
“Regional connectivity is one of the seven goals of Pakistan’s Development Vision 2025 and is an important element of SCO’s Development Strategy 2025,” he added.
Sartaj Aziz also expressed the hope that SCO may also convene a meeting of Planning Ministers of SCO member States to pursue the economic agenda of SCO.
Moreover, Sartaj Aziz conveyed his deep appreciation for the strong support and facilitation extended by the SCO Secretariat in the process of Pakistan’s accession to the SCO in June 2017.
The SCO secretary general said the full membership of Pakistan and India in SCO would greatly enhance the development prospects of the entire region.
