Prime Minister, Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani will arrive here on a two-day visit on Wednesday to represent Pakistan at the annual Shanghai Co-operation Organisation (SCO) Heads of Government Council (HGC) meeting.
During the conference, SCO heads of government, besides reviewing the progress on various projects of trade and economic co-operation among the member states, will discuss strategy for increased multilateral co-operation and priority directions within the organisation's framework.
At the summit, Prime Minister Gilani will present Pakistan's viewpoint on various matters of importance for the region, including the need to have enhanced co-operation among the regional countries in diverse fields such as trade and economy, energy and other areas for mutual benefit.
"The participation of Prime Minister Gilani in the SCO conference in contrast with other observers being represented at the meeting by their ministers, depicts seriousness of Pakistan in pursuing the goals of peace and security as well as enhanced trade and economic co-operation at the regional level", Pakistan's Ambassador in Tajikistan Khalid Usman Kaiser told APP.
He said access of Pakistan to sea can play a significant role in the economic development of the region and turn it into a trade and energy corridor by providing land and sea route to the SCO member countries, including the land-locked Central Asian Republics-rich in energy and natural resources - for a win a win to all.
The Prime Minister will also use the occasion for bilateral meetings with the leaders and heads of government of the SCO member states, including Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon, Prime Minister Okil Okinov, Russian Prime Minister Vildimir Putin, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and Kazakhstan Prime Minister Karim Kazhymkanovich.
The visit of Gilani and his meetings with the leaders and heads of government will help further strengthen Pakistan's existing bilateral relations with SCO member states, and provide an opportunity to exchange views on matters of mutual interest as well as the regional and international issues.
Pakistan is among the four countries having observer status in Shanghai Co-operation Organisation (SCO), which was created in Shanghai in 2001 by its member states, including Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Pakistan, with its geo-strategic location and important role for peace and security in the region, is seeking permanent membership in SCO, which also has on-board Iran, India and Mangolia as observers and Belarus and Sri Lanka as dialogue partners. Afghanistan is also invited in the SCO moots as a special guest.
SCO member states occupy a territory of over 30 million square kilometres, which makes up three fifths of the Eurasian continent, and have a population of 1.5 billion, which makes up a quarter of the planet's population. The main objectives of the SCO include strengthening of mutual confidence and good-neighbourly relations among the member countries; promoting effective co-operation in politics, trade and economy, science and technology, culture.
It also focuses on education, energy, transportation, tourism, environmental protection and other fields; making joint efforts to maintain and ensure peace, security and stability in the region, moving towards the establishment of a new, democratic, just and rational political and economic international order.
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