BISHKEK: The 13th summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) will begin in the Kyrgyz capital of Bishkek today (on Friday), aiming at fostering economic development and cooperation on regional security.
Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambayev being Chairman of the SCO will open the Summit.
Prime Minister’s advisor on foreign affairs and national security Sartaj Aziz will represent Pakistan in the two-day event.
The SCO is an intergovernmental security organization, founded in 2001 in Shanghai by the leaders of China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
Iran, India, Mongolia, and Pakistan are observer members of the organization while Belarus, Turkey and Sri Lanka are dialogue partners.
Pakistan enjoys the observer status in the SCO and is seeking a full membership status of the organization. The SCO’s policies and programs are in consonance with Pakistan’s long term objectives of promoting peace and stability in the region‚ containing and eradicating the menace of terrorism from the region and working with members to build stronger and more productive relationship in the future.
Meanwhile, Sartaj Aziz held a meeting with Indian external affairs minister Salman Khurshid in Bishkek on Friday on the sideline of ECO summit and discussed to boost up bilateral ties‚ ways to solve tension on Line of Control (LoC) and dialogue process between the two countries.
Both the ministers also discussed proposed meeting of the ministers of two countries in New York later this month.
Later talking to media‚ Indian Minister for External Affairs said the issue of Mumbai attacks was also discussed at the meeting.
