ASTANA, Kazakhstan: The two-day meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Council of Heads of Government will begin on Sunday in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan.
The prime minister’s advisor on national security and foreign affairs Sartaj Aziz will lead the Pakistani delegation at the meeting.
“Pakistan subscribes to the principles of the SCO contained in its Charter. As an observer of the SCO, Pakistan has been making substantive contributions for regional peace, security and development in SCO Heads of State Council and Heads of Government Council meetings,” the Foreign Office spokesperson Tasneem Aslam said in her weekly media briefing in Islamabad on December 11.
“It is a matter of satisfaction that Pakistan’s request for membership of SCO is under active consideration of SCO members,” the spokesperson added.
The meeting will focus in particular on discussing the results of the 13th SCO council of external trade and economy ministers meeting which was held in Astana in November 2014 while the SCO secretariat will present a report on the organization’s foreign economic and foreign trade activity.
The advisor will also hold bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the meeting, the Foreign Office spokesperson said.
“The SCO represents a forum for increased cooperation between Pakistan and Central Asia. Political, economic and security cooperation between the Pakistan and SCO Member States is growing ever stronger, and is a source of stability and prosperity for the region,” Tasneem Aslam said.
The SCO is comprising six member states including China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, five observers including Afghanistan Pakistan, Iran, India, and Mongolia while three dialogue partners including Belarus, Turkey and Sri Lanka.
It was established in June 2001, and aims to strengthen friendly relations amongst states and contribute to peace, stability and security in the region.
