Prime Minster Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani will arrive in the Russian city of Saint Petersburg on Sunday to represent Pakistan at the 10th Heads of Government moot of the Shanghai Co-operation Organisation (SCO). Gilani will attend the SCO summit on November 7, on the invitation of Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, who had expressed confidence that the forthcoming SCO session, would promote co-operation between Pakistan and other member states.
The Russian Premier had also conveyed his desire to meet Prime Minister Gilani on the sidelines of SCO. Prime Minister Gilani will present Pakistan's case at the SCO forum and will seek full membership of the organisation. "Pakistan is desirous of becoming a full member of this forum on account of its immense potential for dealing with common regional challenges," Foreign Office said in a statement.
The Shanghai Co-operation Organisation (SCO) is an important regional security organisation whose profile and scope of agenda, has assumed great importance over the years. The SCO, founded in Shanghai in June 2001, groups China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Pakistan holds the observer status along with Mongolia, India, and Iran whereas Sri Lanka and Belarus have been granted the status of dialogue partners.
The upcoming session is aimed at highlighting importance of co-ordination among the member states on issues of resolving economic crises and developing trade, economic and humanitarian ties along with other observer states and regional partners. The SCO deals with issues of common regional concern including trade, connectivity, energy co-operation, security-related collaboration, drug trafficking, extremism and terrorism.
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