SCO Member States Advocate for UN Resolution Endorsing Peace and Development Initiative

ISLAMABAD: The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) concluded its 23rd meeting of the Council of Heads of Government with the signing of several important documents, including a Joint Communiqué advocating for a UN resolution to support their initiative for global peace and development. According to Kuwait News Agency, the Joint Communiqué highlighted that the SCO member states respect the right of peoples to choose their political, social, and economic development paths independently and democratically. It emphasized the principles of sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity, equality, mutual benefit, non-interference in internal affairs, and the non-use of force as the foundation for sustainable international relations. The document reaffirmed the commitment of SCO nations to peacefully settle disputes through dialogue and consultations. It also underlined their intention to promote a proposal for a UN General Assembly resolution endorsing the SCO initiative titled "On World Unity for a Just Pe ace, Harmony and Development," which was first introduced at the 24th SCO summit in Astana. The member states expressed their intent to further develop cooperation in various fields including politics, security, trade, economy, finance, investment, and cultural and humanitarian ties. The communique also addressed concerns over reduced investment flows, disrupted supply chains, and uncertainty in global financial markets caused by protectionist measures and other trade barriers. The SCO emphasized that unilateral sanctions are incompatible with international law and negatively affect third countries and global economic relations. The proposal to create a Greater Eurasian Partnership, involving the SCO, Eurasian Economic Union, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, and other interested states, was noted. The communique highlighted the importance of stable economic and social development in the SCO region, the implementation of the SCO Economic Development Strategy up to 2030, and the Program of Multilatera l Trade and Economic Cooperation of SCO member states. It stressed the significant potential for further enhancing trade and economic ties and the importance of developing a "New Economic Dialogue" among the SCO member states. Additionally, the importance of regular meetings of the Special Working Group on Electronic Commerce was emphasized, with a proposal to convene the next meeting in China in early 2025 to develop a draft Program of Cooperation in electronic commerce among SCO nations. The meeting acknowledged the need for enhanced cooperation in environmental protection, biodiversity conservation, waste management, and addressing natural disaster risks. It also called for deeper cooperation between emergency agencies, including space monitoring of natural disaster risks and the exchange of operational information. The meeting ended with a note of thanks to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan for successfully organizing the 23rd meeting and the announcement of the next meeting location in the Russian Fede ration in 2025. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif of Pakistan transferred the chairmanship of the Council of Heads of Government of the SCO to the Russian Federation and voiced concerns over the ongoing issues in Gaza.