ISLAMABAD, Sunday, August 31, 2025 (WNP): President Asif Ali Zardari has urged member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) to seize the “historic opportunity” offered by their shared geography to strengthen economic connectivity and address common challenges such as poverty, climate change, and environmental degradation.
In an Op-Ed published Sunday in China Daily to mark the SCO Summit in Tianjin, the president stressed that collective action was vital for advancing human security and building a just global order.
“We have to make common efforts to address the challenges of poverty and inequality. Only then will we be able to usher in true human security anchored in a just global order,” Zardari wrote.
Highlighting the SCO’s progress, he praised its achievements in countering terrorism and curbing transnational crimes, particularly drug trafficking, noting that the organization had grown into the world’s largest regional bloc, spanning 80 percent of Eurasia and 40 percent of the global population.
“The summit in Tianjin gives us a platform to chart a roadmap for the next decade of holistic development for SCO members,” he said.
Zardari emphasized the need for the organization to uphold “true multilateralism” that covers not only peace and security but also economic, financial, commercial, and technological cooperation. He called on SCO nations to collectively combat the “three evils” of terrorism, extremism, and separatism, which he warned could plunge the world into chaos.
Referring to China’s growing role, Zardari lauded President Xi Jinping’s vision of building “a community with a shared future for humanity,” saying it aligned with the SCO’s long-term objectives. “We in Pakistan fully endorse China’s vision to pursue the ‘Shanghai Spirit’ under the banner of the SCO,” he affirmed.
On Pakistan-China relations, the president reaffirmed the “iron brothers” partnership, describing it as “the stuff of legends that is envied by other nations.” He recalled working with Chinese leadership, including President Xi, on the conceptualization and launch of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which he said had become both a hallmark of their friendship and a symbol of Pakistan’s economic growth.
“My visit to China in February this year reinforced my conviction that although together we have made huge strides, we are destined to play an even bigger role to strengthen our bilateral ties in diverse fields – defense, cybersecurity, new technologies, energy – and make our regions both conduits and destinations for commerce and shared prosperity,” he added.
Zardari also congratulated Xi on hosting the largest-ever SCO Summit and wished China success in advancing the forum’s agenda of peace, stability, and shared development.
