UFA (Russia): Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif suggested on Thursday a four-pronged approach encompassing people-to- people contact, confidence-building in peace and security, trade and regional connectivity among the BRICS countries for uplift of their people.
Addressing the BRICS Outreach meeting on the sidelines of SCO Summit here, he said Pakistan valued its interaction with BRICS, which consisted of important countries of the region and beyond.
Mr Sharif, along with his delegation, arrived here from Oslo to lead Pakistani delegation at the 15th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit and 7th BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) Summit.
Mr Sharif called for collectively focusing on wellbeing of people.
He proposed promotion of mutual understanding, cooperation and goodwill through cultural, academic interaction and people-to-people contact.
He said confidence-building in peace and security was an essential ingredient for endeavours towards shared prosperity.
He suggested developing bilateral and regional trade and commerce, introducing cohesive laws, reducing tariff and non-tariff barriers, and easing the movement of people and merchandise.
Besides, the prime minster said, connectivity should be promoted by investing in regional infrastructure and transport networks, including roads, motorways, railways and air and sea links.
“We are grateful to our host, President Vladimir Putin and the government of the Russian Federation, for bringing SCO and BRICS member community together under one roof. This would go a long way in promoting inclusive and synergetic approach to economic development,” he remarked.
“This interaction coincides with the consensus to make Pakistan a full member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation,” he said.
“Pakistan’s economic growth has remained steady. We have unveiled ‘Vision-2025’ to provide a solid platform for the revival of sustainable and inclusive growth. The potential growth sectors such as infrastructure, power and natural resources are open to large-scale investments.”
He said Pakistan had been collaborating with a number of SCO and BRICS members to promote progress and prosperity of people.
With Chinese collaboration, Pakistan is building the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, as an important part of President Xi Jinping’s visionary initiative of ‘One Road and One Belt’ and a ‘Community of Shared Destiny’.
He said Pakistan’s fight against terror, including the ongoing military operation, was not only for protection of Pakistan, rather it was very critical for peace of the region and the international community.
Pakistan has rendered huge sacrifices in terms of human and economic losses “but this has not weakened our resolve to fight against extremism and uproot terrorism”.
“We remain absolutely determined to taking this campaign to its logical conclusion in order to achieve our objective of peaceful and prosperous region.”
Published in Dawn, July 10th, 2015
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