{"id":45288,"date":"2025-04-18T21:32:33","date_gmt":"2025-04-18T21:32:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pakistanintheworld.pk\/live\/?p=45288"},"modified":"2025-04-18T21:32:33","modified_gmt":"2025-04-18T21:32:33","slug":"secretary-general-shanghai-cooperation-organization-mentions-pakistans-growing-importance-in-connectivity-initiatives","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pakistanintheworld.pk\/live\/secretary-general-shanghai-cooperation-organization-mentions-pakistans-growing-importance-in-connectivity-initiatives\/","title":{"rendered":"Secretary General Shanghai Cooperation Organization Mentions Pakistan\u2019s Growing Importance in Connectivity Initiatives"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-45296\" src=\"https:\/\/pakistanintheworld.pk\/live\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/SCO-Secretary-General.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"310\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pakistanintheworld.pk\/live\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/SCO-Secretary-General.jpg 500w, https:\/\/pakistanintheworld.pk\/live\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/SCO-Secretary-General-300x186.jpg 300w, https:\/\/pakistanintheworld.pk\/live\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/SCO-Secretary-General-356x220.jpg 356w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>ISSI Hosts SCO Secretary General for Distinguished Lecture on \u201cSCO\u2019s Role Changing Global Order\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>ISLAMABAD: April 18, 2025 &#8211; The Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) hosted SCO Secretary General Nurlan Yermekbayev for a Distinguished Lecture, titled \u201cThe SCO\u2019s Role in the Changing Global Order\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>In his wide ranging lecture, the Secretary General highlighted SCO\u2019s progress in a transforming world and lauded Pakistan\u2019s pivotal role in regional peace, stability, connectivity, and development. The SCO Deputy Secretary General Ambassador Sohail Khan and Pakistan\u2019s National Coordinator for SCO Ambassador Farhat Ayesha also attended.<\/p>\n<p><strong>DG ISSI Ambassador Sohail Mahmood,<\/strong> in his welcome remarks, highlighted the SCO&#8217;s evolution into one of the world\u2019s most comprehensive and dynamic multilateral platforms. He noted the Organization\u2019s vast footprint, encompassing nearly half of the global population and contributing 25% of global GDP.<\/p>\n<p>Ambassador Sohail Mahmood underscored the enduring relevance of the \u2018Shanghai Spirit\u2019\u2014 rooted in mutual trust, equality, and respect for cultural diversity \u2014 and lauded expansion of SCO\u2019s agenda beyond traditional security to include economic integration, sustainable development, and people-to-people exchanges.<\/p>\n<p>He reaffirmed Pakistan\u2019s strong commitment to the SCO\u2019s principles and objectives, particularly its advocacy for regional connectivity, economic development, and people-centric cooperation. He emphasized Pakistan\u2019s honour in hosting the SCO Council of Heads of Government (CHG) in 2024 and the upcoming Council of Heads of State (CHS) Summit in 2027, viewing these as key opportunities to deepen collaboration and advance SCO\u2019s goals.<\/p>\n<p>He concluded by emphasizing the importance of lending full support to the Secretary General in guiding the SCO\u2019s evolution as a pillar of peace, stability, and inclusive progress in a changing global order. He further emphasised that as a leading think tank and research institution, the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) would continue to make its rightful contribution to reinforce these worthy endeavors.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"JI3NjFaXup\"><p><a href=\"https:\/\/pakistanintheworld.pk\/live\/pakistan-in-the-world-february-2025\/\">Pakistan in the World \u2013 February 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><iframe class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);\" title=\"&#8220;Pakistan in the World \u2013 February 2025&#8221; &#8212; Pakistan In the World\" src=\"https:\/\/pakistanintheworld.pk\/live\/pakistan-in-the-world-february-2025\/embed\/#?secret=NVTM5Xdqah#?secret=JI3NjFaXup\" data-secret=\"JI3NjFaXup\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><strong>Secretary General Nurlan Yermekbayev,<\/strong> in his comprehensive lecture, emphasized the SCO\u2019s growing relevance as a platform for peace, security, and inclusive development amid evolving geopolitical realities. Highlighting the &#8220;Shanghai Spirit&#8221; rooted in mutual trust, mutual benefit, consultation, respect for diversity, and joint development, he reiterated the SCO\u2019s commitment to non-alignment and openness.<\/p>\n<p>The Secretary General praised Pakistan\u2019s active and constructive role in the SCO since becoming a full member in 2017, noting its vital contributions in areas including counterterrorism under RATS, regional connectivity, people-to-people engagement, and cultural diplomacy.<\/p>\n<p>He emphasized Pakistan\u2019s strategic location as a natural bridge between South Asia, Central Asia, and the Middle East, and a gateway for landlocked states to access global markets. Projects like CPEC, he said, symbolize Pakistan\u2019s growing importance in SCO connectivity initiatives.<\/p>\n<p>He further underscored Pakistan\u2019s leadership in combating terrorism and efforts for regional stability. The Secretary General also emphasized Pakistan\u2019s potential in promoting sustainable development, digital innovation, and climate resilience.<\/p>\n<p>He expressed optimism for enhanced academic cooperation with institutions like ISSI and reaffirmed SCO\u2019s commitment to a peaceful, prosperous, and cooperative Eurasian future. The Secretary General reaffirmed the SCO\u2019s resolve to build a just, democratic, and multipolar world order based on equality, mutual benefit, and shared prosperity.<\/p>\n<p>Earlier, in his introductory remarks, Dr. Talat Shabbir, Director China-Pakistan Study Centre at ISSI, emphasized the significance of the SCO highlighting Pakistan\u2019s strong commitment to the Organization, especially in connectivity, counterterrorism, trade, and people-to-people exchanges.<\/p>\n<p>The lecture concluded with the presentation of a memento to the distinguished guest by Ambassador Khalid Mahmood, Chairman Board of Governors, ISSI. The event was well-attended by a diverse audience, including diplomats, academics, think tank experts, representatives from civil society, and members of the media.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"GCCRDe0iRq\"><p><a href=\"https:\/\/pakistanintheworld.pk\/live\/pakistan-in-the-world-march-2025\/\">Pakistan in the World \u2013 March 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><iframe class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);\" title=\"&#8220;Pakistan in the World \u2013 March 2025&#8221; &#8212; Pakistan In the World\" src=\"https:\/\/pakistanintheworld.pk\/live\/pakistan-in-the-world-march-2025\/embed\/#?secret=3PhPWCeWo4#?secret=GCCRDe0iRq\" data-secret=\"GCCRDe0iRq\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>ISSI Hosts SCO Secretary General for Distinguished Lecture on \u201cSCO\u2019s Role Changing Global Order\u201d ISLAMABAD: April 18, 2025 &#8211; The Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) hosted SCO Secretary General Nurlan Yermekbayev for a Distinguished Lecture, titled \u201cThe SCO\u2019s Role in the Changing Global Order\u201d. In his wide ranging lecture, the Secretary General highlighted SCO\u2019s [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":45296,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[83],"tags":[140,1275,2883,48,509,1395,1526],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pakistanintheworld.pk\/live\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/45288"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pakistanintheworld.pk\/live\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pakistanintheworld.pk\/live\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pakistanintheworld.pk\/live\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pakistanintheworld.pk\/live\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=45288"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/pakistanintheworld.pk\/live\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/45288\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":45298,"href":"https:\/\/pakistanintheworld.pk\/live\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/45288\/revisions\/45298"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pakistanintheworld.pk\/live\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/45296"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pakistanintheworld.pk\/live\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=45288"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pakistanintheworld.pk\/live\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=45288"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pakistanintheworld.pk\/live\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=45288"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}