Pakistan wants SCO states' collaboration to unlock region's potential

• Dar in China on four-day visit to co-chair foreign ministers' dialogue. 
• Reaffirms Pakistan’s unwavering commitment to the SCO Charter.
• Envoy Zhang also reiterates SCO Secretariat’s support for Pakistan. 

BEIJING: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar has urged collaboration between the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) member states to harness the region's potential for sustained progress and prosperity. 

Dar made this emphasis in a meeting with the SCO Secretary-General Ambassador Zhang Ming in Beijing, where the foreign minister arrived on Monday. 

He is on a four-day visit to China to co-chair the Fifth Pakistan-China Foreign Ministers’ Strategic Dialogue with Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi which would cover the full spectrum of Pakistan-China relations

FM Dar reaffirmed Pakistan’s unwavering commitment to the SCO Charter and the Organisation’s fundamental ideals as enunciated in the "Shanghai Spirit". He expressed Pakistan’s strong commitment to advancing SCO’s security and development cooperation agenda. 

The discussion also touched on Pakistan’s initiatives and contributions in its ongoing chairmanship of the SCO Council of Heads of Government. 

During the meeting, Ambassador Zhang conveyed his best wishes to the government of Pakistan on taking the country's reins and reiterated the SCO Secretariat’s continued support to Pakistan during its tenure as Chair of the Heads of Government of the Organisation.

Upon his arrival in the Chinese capital, FM Dar was received by Ambassador Wang Fu Kang and Pakistan's Ambassador to China Ambassador Khalil Hashmi. 

Besides participation in the foreign ministers' dialogue, the deputy prime minister will also hold meetings with Chinese leaders and senior officials and with prominent business enterprises.