23rd SCO CHG summit: Let’s not look at BRI, CPEC through narrow political prism: Shehbaz

ISLAMABAD: Welcoming the connectivity initiatives by the SCO countries, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Wednesday opined that the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and CPEC projects should not be looked at through the narrow political prism, as they were crucial to advancing the shared vision of an economically integrated region.

“Pakistan strongly advocates for establishing a robust SCO connectivity framework, which not only serves as a gateway for regional trade but also takes the vision of Eurasian connectivity and trade to the next level,” he said in his statement at the 23rd meeting of the Council of Heads of Government (CHG) of the member states of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) here.

To this end, he said projects such as the International North-South Corridor (INSC) could be expanded to improve connectivity, focusing on roads, railways, and digital infrastructure. “Let us not look at such projects through the narrow political prism and invest in our collective connectivity capacities, which are crucial to advancing the shared vision of an economically integrated region,” the prime minister said and stressed that there was a need to work together for a well-integrated and prosperous region that benefits all member states.

The prime minister earlier received the participating leaders at the venue before a group photo. He pointed out that during Pakistan’s chairmanship, several positive and forward-looking initiatives were adopted. These included concepts on establishing the SCO Economic Preference Base; Cooperation between Trade Promotion Organizations of the SCO Member-States; Framework for Cooperation among the SCO Member-States in the field of creative economy development; and the SCO New Economic Dialogue Programme. “I propose that we collectively enter into the implementation phase of these concepts through Plans of Action, which will strengthen and deepen the existing cooperation among member states in the economic and trade spheres,” he said.

Talking about stability in Afghanistan, he said owing to its contiguity with the SCO region, a socio-economically stable Afghanistan could offer all members viable and economically beneficial trade and transit routes for better connectivity. “A stable Afghanistan is crucial for achieving this objective,” he said. At the same time, the premier said while the international community must extend the needed assistance to help the Afghan interim government stave off the humanitarian crisis and prevent an economic meltdown, it must also demand that the Afghan interim government take concrete measures to promote political inclusivity, as well as to ensure that its soil was not used for terrorism against its neighbours by any entity.

Shehbaz was of the view that economic collaboration was at the heart of the SCO engagement. “Investment in regional infrastructure projects, such as transport and energy corridors, is crucial for economic integration. In this regard, Pakistan welcomes the decisions of the SCO Council of Heads of State on Strategy for the Development of Energy Cooperation, for the period up to 2030, as well as the establishment of an Association of Investors,” he said. The prime minister noted that combating poverty was not just a moral imperative but a fundamental driver of economic development and prosperity, as the presence of the largest number of poor people on the planet within the SCO borders obliged the member countries to have closer cooperation for poverty alleviation.

As the permanent chair of the SCO Special Working Group to Combat Poverty, the prime minister said Pakistan carried out several joint seminars, webinars, etc. aimed at sharing knowledge and best practices. “We will continue to provide the required impetus to our collective efforts to address the root causes of poverty, enabling member states to unlock their full economic potential, create sustainable growth and improve the overall quality of life of their citizen,” Shehbaz said. He noted that unpredictable climate changes were the greatest threat to humanity’s existence. “Its devastation is colossal and transcends all borders. Combating climate change and protecting the environment within the SCO region is essential for ensuring sustainable development, economic stability and social well-being.

“As one of the most climate-vulnerable countries, Pakistan testifies to the need for prioritising environmental cooperation among the member states, to enhance resilience, foster collaboration and secure a safer future for our present and future generations,” he said. He also welcomed the recently concluded SCO Agreement on Environmental Protection and urged the member states to actively collaborate in all such efforts at the regional and global scale.

Shehbaz also pointed out that Pakistan had developed an innovative model of a technology-based, proactive disaster management system, which provided early warning for emergencies relating to climate change. “This has enabled us to undertake timely corrective measures to save precious resources of men and material. Pakistan looks forward to organizing simulation exercises for the relevant ministries and departments of SCO countries, to enable them to make country-specific disaster management responses,” he said.

The premier said unilateral coercive or protectionist measures ran contrary to international law, curbed economic growth and disproportionately hurt the scientific and technological development of affected countries. He said the international financial architecture and the world trade and technology regimes must be reformed and aligned to promote development and global equity and over the years, a strong base has been readied for SCO’s development cooperation matrix.

However, the prime minister said there was a growing realisation that a gap existed between the organization’s aspirations and our performances. “This is particularly so between the raft of agreements and MoUs we have signed and their implementation. It is time we translate our political will into action on the ground,” he said. He further said the SCO Consortium of Economic Analytic Think Tanks was an important forum of scholars who understood the intricacies of economies and trade trends and their academic inputs could improve the canvas of regional economic and trade patterns.

“As Chair of the Consortium, Pakistan led a useful research work this year, which has been shared with member states,” he said. The prime minister also called for encouraging the private sector to create a conducive environment for business and investment promotion within the SCO region. “With the participation of SCO Business Council, Pakistan’s Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry held a very useful conference on the sidelines of the meeting of SCO Ministers for External Trade on 12 September 2024 in Islamabad. I encourage the Business Council to regularly hold such events to enhance interaction among our business community.

“We observe a clear understanding among all SCO member states about the need for settlement in mutually acceptable currencies. In the face of unilateral sanctions on some of the SCO member states, SCO’s Interbank Union is rightly placed to discuss and resolve the banking issues, which can translate into a multiplier effect for enhancing trade within the SCO region.

“Pakistan also supports the proposal to create an SCO alternative development funding mechanism, to give the needed impetus to various stalled development initiatives. We also welcome the timely decision of the SCO Council of Heads of State on the mechanisms of financial support to project activities of SCO.”

Shehbaz said Pakistan strongly believed that a strengthened and effective SCO could spearhead sustainable development in the region and therefore supports the ongoing efforts to reform and modernize the SCO, including the provision of adequate resources to the SCO Secretariat and SCO RATS, which will lead to their effectiveness and implementation capacities. “Last but not least, the SCO’s strength lies not only in its political and economic dimensions but also in its rich cultural diversity. Pakistan values the importance of fostering people-to-people connections and cultural exchanges among our member states. By promoting mutual understanding and respect, we can build a foundation for lasting cooperation that transcends borders and enriches our societies,” he said.

He urged the member states to prioritise collaboration over political differences and collaborate to address the shared challenges and work hand-in-hand to ensure that the SCO remained the beacon of stability and development for the mutual benefit of the people in the region.

The prime minister said that the SCO meeting highlighted the commitment of the member states for a better and sustainable future for the next generations. He congratulated Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin on assuming the chairmanship of the Council. Shehbaz also assured the Russian Prime Minister of Pakistan’s fullest support and reiterated his unwavering commitment to SCO goals and objectives. The prime minister urged the member states to prioritise collaboration over political differences and collaborate to address the shared challenges and work hand-in-hand to ensure that SCO remained the beacon of stability and development for the mutual benefit of the people in the region. He also thanked the participating countries for their commitment and support to ensure the smooth conduct of the meeting.

The meeting was attended by the leaders from the SCO member states including China’s Premier of the State Council Li Qiang, Prime Minister of Belarus Roman Golovchenko, Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Olzhas Bektenov, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, Tajik Prime Minister Kohir Rasulzoda, Uzbek Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov, Kyrgyzstan’s Chairman of Ministers’ Cabinet Zhaparov Akylbek, Trade Minister of Iran Seyyed Mohammad Atabek, and Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar. Mongolia participated in the summit as an Observer State represented by Prime Minister Oyun-Erdene Luvsannamsrai and Turkmenistan as a Special Guest represented by Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers Rashid Meredov. Others who attended by meeting included SCO Secretary-General Zhang Ming, Director of Executive Committee SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) Ruslan Mirzayev, Chairman of the Board of SCO Business Council Atif Ikram Shaikh and Chairman of the Council of SCO Interbank Union Marat Yelibayev.

Meanwhile, in a post on his X handle, Shehbaz said he was honoured to chair the 23rd Shanghai Cooperation Organization Council of Heads of Government (SCO CHG) Summit. He said Pakistan’s national statement underscored the constructive role that SCO can play for sustainable development, enhance regional connectivity and economic integration, strengthen climate action, and poverty alleviation. Shehbaz said he also highlighted the importance of multilateral cooperation and reform of the international financial system while raising concerns about the unilateral coercive measures that were contrary to international law. “I am confident that together, we can build a bright future for the people of SCO region and beyond,” he said.

Meanwhile, the SCO Heads of Government meeting signed some important documents, including the Joint Communique and those related to furthering the economic and trade cooperation as well as the efficient working of permanent bodies of the SCO.

Sabah adds: Meanwhile, SCO Secretary-General Zhang Ming commended Pakistan for making excellent arrangements for the SCO heads of government. Addressing a press conference here along with Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, he said Pakistan also made significant contributions to the success of the moot. Ming mentioned that the SCO meeting focused on practical cooperation among the member states. He said in-depth discussions were held on prospects of cooperation in different areas such as trade, investment, transport, energy and agriculture. He said the concept of cooperation on the development of a new economic dialogue among the SCO member states was adopted aimed at enhancing trade and economic cooperation.

In his remarks, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar pointed out that the joint communique adopted by the SCO meeting was a comprehensive document covering a wide array of cooperation in diverse areas. Dar said the meeting was conducted in the traditional atmosphere of the SCO characterized by goodwill, understanding cooperation, collaboration, mutual respect and benefit. He emphasized that it renewed the resolve of the SCO leadership to work together with the spirit of mutual respect and cooperation enabling them to overcome challenges and create hope for a better and more sustainable future.