ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister’s Coordinator for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Romina Khurshid Alam on Wednesday said the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s (SCO) significance as a multilateral forum had further enhanced post-Covid-19 pandemic that stirred transformational changes leading towards a multi-polar world.

She was speaking as a keynote speaker at a webinar on ‘Multi-polar World and Role of SCO’ organised by the China-Pakistan Friendship Group of the Parliament in collaboration with the Asian Institute of Eco-civilization, Research and Development (AIERD).

Ms Alam said: “Pakistan is hosting a head of government meeting in the coming week. SCO was built by adhering to the philosophy of the Shanghai spirit, which revolves around the principles of mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, consultation, respect for the diversity of civilisations and the pursuit of common development.”

The SCO forum, she said, started with a low profile but was highly focused on its goals and objectives.

Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed said there was a need to enhance cultural linkages, and for this purpose, people-to-people exchanges should be promoted.

Founding president of Centre for China and Globalisation Dr Henry Huiyao Wang highlighted the importance of economic linkages and the key role of the economy in bringing together countries.

Russian International Affairs Council’s Julia Melnikova was convinced that the SCO should be more vocal and raise its voice at the global level. It should present its ideas and contribute to global peace and development, she added.

AIERD CEO Shakeel Ahmed Ramay said: “We have to deliberate on whether we are moving towards a multi-polar or multi-block world.”

He also emphasised that SCO must have a comprehensive communication policy to compete with the world.

Published in Dawn, October 10th, 2024