Islamabad (Web Desk): Indian Minister of External Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar on Wednesday underscored the importance of tackling challenges between neighbouring countries through genuine dialogue and collaboration.
Addressing the 23rd summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of Government (CHG) meeting in Islamabad, the Indian FM stressed that building trust and fostering cooperation are essential for resolving differences and advancing mutual interests.
Jaishankar highlighted that respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty should form the foundation of any partnership.
By addressing these issues with sincerity, the Indian FM said that nations could create a more stable and prosperous region, benefiting from stronger ties and cooperation.
According to him, these activities hinder progress in areas like trade, energy cooperation, and people-to-people connections between nations.
The Indian acknowledged the challenges the world is currently facing, including ongoing conflicts, the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, climate crises, debt concerns, and the rise of new technologies.
He urged SCO members to focus on the organization’s core principles of mutual trust and good neighbourly relations to address these issues.
The Indian FM also congratulated Pakistan for its leadership of the Council of Heads of Government and assured India's support for a successful term.
The two-day summit of the SCO’s CHG held in Islamabad on October 15-16.
The leaders from the SCO member states attending the summit included 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.
Besides, Mongolia participated in the summit as an Observer State being represented by Prime Minister Oyun-Erdene Luvsannamsrai and Turkmenistan as a Special Guest represented by Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers Rashid Meredov.
Among other dignitaries attending the moot 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.
Having joined the SCO in 2017, Pakistan had assumed the rotating chair of the SCO CHG for 2023-24 at its previous meeting held in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan on October 26, 2023.
The next chairmanship of CHG of SCO member states has been transferred to the Russian Federation where the next summit will be held in 2025.
