Qingdao, China (DND): The participants of 18th Meeting of the Council of Heads of Member States of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization which is taking place at the coastal city of Qingdao expressed their concerns over terrorists particularly Daesh (Islamic State) housing in Afghanistan, reports Dispatch News News Desk (DND) News Agency.
The 18th SCO summit was addressed by the heads of member states including presidents of China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan Iran, Mongolia, Belarus and Afghanistan while Indian Prime Minister Modi addressed the Summit.
Being held in eastern seaport and tourist resort of Qingdao, Shandong Province, 18th SCO Summit has agenda of enhancing political support, maintaining regional security and stability, strengthening economic cooperation, as well as expanding people-to-people exchanges among member-states.
The heads of Pakistan and India attended and addressing first time in Heads of States meeting of SCO.
Kyrgyz President Jeenbekov while addressing the 18th SCO Summit called for financial mechanisms and greater business cooperation among SCO member states, including setting up of a bank of SCO states. It is pertinent to mention that the combined GDP of the SCO’s six members reached 12.63 trillion U.S. dollars in 2017 after India and Pakistan joined the organisation as full members.
President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon was of the view that seeking ways to resolve the military conflict in Afghanistan with the aim of ensuring regional security is must for regionasl peace.
He said that while focusing attention on the issue of ensuring security and stability in the region and the world, the SCO countries must regularly direct their joint efforts to strengthen peace, security and stability, as well as the development of trade, economic, cultural and humanitarian relations in within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
“In order to successfully combat terrorism and extremism, illicit trafficking in drugs and weapons, to prevent the spread of radical ideology and other organized transnational crimes, it was considered necessary to strengthen joint cooperation and put forward a proposal to establish a separate structure – the anti-drug strategy of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the Program of Action for its implementation”, maintained President Emomali.
President Emomali Rahmon said that expanding close ties between law enforcement agencies and defensive forces of SCO countries would help to fight terrorism in the region and seeking ways to resolve the military conflict in Afghanistan with the aim of ensuring regional security is top priority of his country.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi while addressing the Summit stated that India was a proactive member of regional groups and wanted to enhance people to people contact and land connectivity among SCO member states.
He stated that only 6 percent of total tourists coming to India are coming from SCO countries and this number should enhance for a better people to people contact. He offered expertise to enhance skill development of people of SCO members including the field of agriculture, information technology, pharmaceutical industry and petrochemical industry and renewable energy. Afghanistan is under war due to terrorism and India believes that SCO should play proactive role to resolve Afghan crises. “Security is also very important issue for SCO member countries”, stated PM Modi.
President Uzbekistan offered full support to connect Afghanistan with rest of the central Asia and stated that Uzbekistan and Afghanistan are (were) already working together to develop biggest market in the region near Uzbekistan-Afghanistan bordering areas.
Chinese President appreciated heads of RATS for his work counter terrorism in the region.
President of Afghanistan Ashraf Ghani was of the view that Eurasian economy has become a reality and regional cooperation has become the most important reality of this century. Ghani was of the view that regional partners can defeat terrorism and criminals who are bleeding Afghanistan.
He stated that he believes in political solution of Afghan conflict through dialogue with Taliban within parametre of accepting a democratic system in Afghanistan. He appreciated support of EU, United States and SCO members to help for resolving Afghan conflict.
Ghani stated that Tashkent Conference helped to find way for a peaceful Afghanistan. He appreciated PM India Modi for his constant support for Afghan government. He stated that his government is engaged with Pakistan to translate an agreement into reality to help to bring peace in Afghanistan. He stated that our progress is only in papers with Pakistan and he is waiting for realisation of agreements with Pakistan. He appreciated Uzbekistan for becoming a real and reliable friend of Afghanistan and stated that both countries are engaged for construction roads and railways to connect with each other for better connectivity.
Ghani stated that his government was fighting against corruption within and Afghanistan is ready to hold parliamentary elections in 2018 and presidential elections in 2019. He stated that Afghan people are working hard to uphold democracy in the country when terrorists do not want Afghanistan as a democratic country. He stated that Afghanistan is (was) gate way of Central Asia to South Asia. He congratulated Kyrgyzstan for taking Chair for next year as SCO host.
President of Iran Hassan Rouhani was of the view that extremism and terrorism are major threats to the region. He appreciated Russia and China to uphold international norms in face of unilateralism of United States. He stressed to develop regional mechanism to fight terrorism and extremists groups including Daesh which is entering into the region. He stated that North-south corridor is connecting SCO countries through Iran.
While addressing the 18 SCO Summit, Russian President Vladimir Putin was of the view that the situation in Afghanistan requires special attention SCO countries must jointly fight the terrorist threat coming from Afghanistan. He stated that SCO countries are (were) providing maximum support to Afghanistan to come out of crises and would keep assisting Afghanistan in national reconciliation, economic revival and stabilization.
Putin criticized US for its exit from the Iranian Nuclear Deal and stated that world should be committed for the implementation of the deal because US withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action may destabilize the situation.
“Russia stands for a consistent, strict implementation of the JCPOA, and we will continue to follow all our commitments,” Putin said at the expanded meeting of the SCO Council”, commented Putin.
Meanwhile, President Xi Jinping chaired the meeting today which was participated by the Heads of State of SCO Member States which, besides the President of Pakistan, included the Presidents of Kazakhstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Prime Minister of India. The leaders of four Observer States of SCO; Presidents of Afghanistan, Belarus, Iran, and Mongolia also participated in the meeting.
The Heads of State held a ‘restricted format’ meeting of the leaders of member states in the morning followed by a plenary session. The leaders exchanged views on contemporary regional and global issues. They agreed to further enhance cooperation and mutual trust to realize the maximum potential offered by the organization. The Heads of State reiterated their commitment to the Charter of SCO and to the “Shanghai Spirit” which includes refence to mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, consultation, respect for cultural diversity and pursuit of common development.
The Summit witnessed signing of over 20 documents outlining future SCO trajectory in a number of spheres. Besides the Qingdao Declaration these included: Action Plan on implementing the provisions of Treaty on Long-term Good Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation; Cooperation Plan on Combating Terrorism, Separatism and Extremism; Anti-Drug Strategy and its Plan of Action, Concept on Preventing the Abuse of Narcotic Drugs; Declaration on Trade Facilitation; Vision on Environment Protection; and Joint Appeal of Heads of State on the necessity to prevent involvement of youth in activities of destructive nature and Action Plan. Besides cooperation Agreements/MOUs in various fields such as cooperation on countering threats of Epidemics; MOU on stimulating cooperation in the SMEs, and cooperation in Customs related fields were signed.
