Omar1984
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BEIJING : Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gillani has said Pakistan be given full membership of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).
Prime minister said this while addressing SCO Council of Heads of Government Meeting here Wednesday.
He proposed four pronged strategy for expansion of SCO adding "Pakistan has remained part of this organization for four years. We now want to be accorded full membership of it. This demand on our part demonstrates the fact that Pakistan is eager to work together with other nations. Pakistan wants to share economic and strategic matters with member countries of SCO".
Prime minister called for formation of SCO banking association and business council adding free trade was the only option with us to deal with regional financial crisis.
He urged the member countries of SCO to pursue joint vision to achieve the objectives of regional peace and development . The need is there to adopt a joint strategy to counter the challenges like global economic melt down, terrorism, extremism, threats posed to environment, energy and food crisis, he underlined.
High level meetings should be held between the permanent members and observers of the SCO, he stressed.
A stable and peaceful Afghanistan was not only in the interest of Pakistan but it was also in the interest of the whole region, he reiterated. The forthcoming crisis could be countered through joint and concerted efforts, he added.
"If free trade mechanism is developed among the member countries then we can overcome problems like energy", he maintained.
He cautioned the region was facing threat of terrorism adding all the countries would have to devise comprehensive and shared strategy to face this challenge. People of Pakistan had rendered unprecedented sacrifices in war against terrorism, he held.
"It is matter of pleasure for me to visit Beijing. China has crossed many milestones during the last 60 years. We are deeply impressed by the development and economic stability of China and this factor is serving as sources of encouragement for us. Bilateral friendly relations between Pakistan and China are gaining strength day by day", he announced.