Speech of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif of Pakistan at virtual SCO Summit on 4 July 2023
[Paraphrased Excerpts]
The SCO represents a promising future only if we seize the opportunity to achieve the shared goals for the region’s peace and prosperity.
Pakistan calls for SCO’s joint action to counter economic recession, terrorism & climate change.
The SCO leaders are meeting at a critical juncture as the world faced socio-economic challenges. The SCO can play the role of beacon of peace, stability, and progress.
The regional connectivity is a defining feature of the modern economy. There is the need to focus on investment in this area as a vehicle of peace and prosperity.
The China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a flagship project of the Belt and Road Initiative, could become a game-changer of progress in view of Pakistan’s location connecting the region.
Pakistan is planning to host a regional connectivity conference in the last quarter of the current year.
The monster of terrorism and extremism must be fought with vigour and determination by all SCO states.
The diplomatic point-scoring must be avoided by all countries and all forms of terrorism, including State terrorism, must be condemned.
There is no justification for killing people. Also, the religious minorities should not be marginalized in the garb of political agenda.
The SCO countries must take concerted actions against terrorism, extremism, and separatism both in their national capacities and also under the framework of SCO-RATS (Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure).
Stability in Afghanistan is critical to achieving the common objectives of peace and security.
There is the impending grave humanitarian crisis and economic meltdown in Afghanistan, which needs urgent corrective measures by the interim Afghan government and the international community.
The situation related to the climate-induced disasters demands global solidarity as the time to act is now and immediately.
Pakistan, during the last year’s flash floods, faced the “horrors of climate change”, leading to 1,700 deaths and economic losses worth $30 billion.
Poverty alleviation must be a priority in the wake of the economic recession.
On Islamophobia, he said Peace and communal harmony are the need of the hour to deal with Islamophobia. There is the need to adhere to the resolutions of the UN Security Council to settle the issues amicably before it was too late.
Pakistan is resolved to play a positive and constructive role in making SCO an effective regional organization.
We thank India for its stewardship of SCO during the past year and congratulate Kazakhstan for assuming the chair for the next year. Pakistan congratulates Iran on inclusion in the organization as a full member. [Based on report by APP]
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