Pakistan Signs Qingdao's Declaration, Vowing To Work For Common Development

Qingdao, (Pakistan Point News - 10th Jun, 2018) : Pakistan here on Sunday joined other SCO's leaders adopting Qingado's declaration, vowing to work jointly for common development, while ensuring peace and security in the region. President Mamnoon Hussain signed the declaration. The signing ceremony also involved other leaders of China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and India. The leaders adopted a total of 17 documents at the summit, which particularly include documents endorsing the 2018-2022 Action Plan to implement the Treaty for Long-term Good-Neighborly Relations, Friendship and Cooperation between the SCO states and the 2019-2020 Program for Cooperation in countering terrorism, separatism and extremism.

The leaders also signed a decision to approve the 2018-2023 Anti-Drug Strategy and an Action Plan to implement it. Besides, leaders of all the SCO countries also signed an information statement. The Declaration on the Establishment of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization was singed in China's Shanghai in June 2001 by six founding states - Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. India and Pakistan were granted SCO membership on June 9, 2017.

Afghanistan, Belarus, Iran and Mongolia currently enjoy observer status, while Sri Lanka, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Cambodia and Nepal are dialogue partners. President Xi Jinping addressed a joint press conference following the ceremony. "We have had an in-depth exchange of views on major international and regional issues. We have ratified an action plan for implementing the treaty on long-term good neighbourliness, friendship and cooperation of the SCO member-states," President Xi said while addressing a joint media briefing.

PM Modi and Pakistani President Mamnoon Hussain were seen shaking hands after signing of the agreements at the summit. This is the first SCO summit wherein both India and Pakistan are attending as full-time members. India and Pakistan became full members of the organisation at Astana Summit in Kazakhstan in June last year. The final day of the two-day annual summit commenced with a welcome ceremony and a group photo of leaders of the eight SCO member-states. The SCO was founded in Shanghai 17 years ago and it now accounts for nearly half of the world's population and over 20 per cent of global GDP. It is by far the largest regional organisation in the world