ISLAMABAD: Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said on Thursday that Pakistan will continue to support the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) while focusing on building bilateral relations with its neighbours.
She told the Pakistan National news channel that Pakistan is a peace-loving country that seeks good relations with all of its neighbors, including those in East Asia and the Middle East. She also emphasised the need for a peaceful and stable neighbourhood and praised Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto for his efforts in contributing to the building of such an environment.
She stated that Bilawal Bhutto’s visit was highly effective since he clearly and firmly expressed Pakistan’s position on Kashmir and other issues and that Pakistan will continue participating in Shanghai Cooperation Organization meetings.
Talking about CPEC, she stated that Pakistan and China have a long history of strategic partnerships that have always been on an upward trajectory based on mutual trust and understanding. She stated that China is a long-standing friend of Pakistan and has always stood by us on numerous occasions.
The Pak-China joint statement showed both countries’ confidence in the CPEC project, and the two sides agreed on the necessity of the China-Pakistan All-weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership in the face of increasing global problems. In response to a question, she stated that an official Ethiopian team led by Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Misganu Arega would arrive in Karachi for a three-day official visit, adding that both sides would discuss various bilateral matters of mutual interest.
In response to another question about Afghanistan, she stated that Pakistan is dedicated in achieving a qualitative transformation in Pakistan-Afghanistan ties as part of its goal of a “peaceful neighbourhood.” She also praised FM’s sideline meetings with counterparts from China, Russia, and other friendly countries, saying that all of these sideline contacts are crucial because they allow friendly countries to connect and exchange views.-APP
