Foreign Minister (FM) Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi led the Pakistan delegation to the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers Meeting (SCO-CFM) held in Dushanbe, Tajikistan on 13-14 July 2021.
Under the Chairmanship of the Foreign Minister of Tajikistan, Foreign Ministers of SCO Member States took a comprehensive view of the development of SCO in its twentieth anniversary year. They deliberated upon important regional and international issues and exchanged views on strengthening cooperation between SCO member states across diverse areas including security, trade and economy, energy, industry, food security, culture, health, environment, transport links and connectivity etc.
The Dushanbe SCO-CFM endorsed several important documents that will be submitted to SCO Heads of States at their annual summit meeting in September 2021.
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Marking the twentieth anniversary of the founding of SCO, the Foreign Minister, in his statement, commended the work carried out in the last two decades that had made SCO a globally recognised and influential multilateral platform.
FM Qureshi highlighted the formidable collective political and economic potential of SCO and emphasised that the key to unlock the geo-economic potential of this region lies in developing greater connectivity and transport links through air, road and sea between its member states.
While emphasising the importance of joint efforts for maintenance of international peace and security, the Foreign Minister underscored concern at the indiscriminate use of force in complete disregard to international humanitarian laws; and unilateral approach to solve longstanding international disputes.
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FM Shah Mahmood Qureshi also called for greater people to people contacts in order to strengthen ties between member states for the achievement of a shared vision of a peaceful, prosperous and inter connected SCO region. Towards this end, he proposed creation of mechanisms that would bring together businessmen, entrepreneurs and parliamentarians to connect; exchange experiences and forge lasting and mutually beneficial partnerships.
On the sidelines of the SCO-CFM, FM Qureshi held bilateral meetings with his counterparts from SCO countries including Tajikistan, China, Russia, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Afghanistan. The Foreign Minister also represented Pakistan in the SCO-Afghanistan Contact Group meeting which deliberated upon the unfolding situation in Afghanistan and its potential impact on regional peace and security.
Following the Contact Group meeting, a Joint Statement was adopted which sets out the shared view of SCO on stability and security of Afghanistan and the commitment of SCO member states to assist Afghanistan in its socio-economic recovery and re-construction.
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The Joint Statement ‘commended’ the long standing hospitality given to Afghan refugees by neighbouring and regional countries and called for efforts by the international community for their “dignified, safe and sustainable return to their homeland”.
Since becoming a member in 2017, Pakistan has made an effective contribution and cooperated constructively towards achieving SCO’s multi-sectoral agenda through various SCO mechanisms.
SCO remains an important forum for further enhancement of our deep rooted historical and cultural links with member states, providing these ties a sound economic foundation, and promoting Pakistan as a regional trade and transit corridor.
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