The Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs while warmly welcoming the Secretary General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) said that Pakistan enjoyed excellent bilateral relations with all SCO member states. It is in that spirit Pakistan associated itself with the SCO as an observer. He said that Pakistan was the first observer state to apply for full membership in 2010. Since then Pakistan's participation in the SCO meetings had been a regular feature.
He underlined that Pakistan is strategically located at the crossroads of the Euroasia region connecting South, Central and West Asia that provide shortest overland access to the sea. He emphasized that Pakistan's membership would bring the SCO a step closer to achieving its vision of regional economic cooperation.
Secretary General Mezentsev stated that enhancing socio economic cooperation among the member states with emphasis on dealing with military and soft security issues, combating terrorism, extremism, separatism, arms and drug trafficking were the main objectives of the SCO.
He mentioned that Pakistan which is an important regional country had been playing unique role because of its excellent relations with China, Russia and other SCO member states.
He stated that SCO was actively working to frame rules for its expansion. He said that increasing membership would not only enlarge the base of the organization but would also increase its effectiveness in the region and its posture internationally.