ZHENZHOU (SW): Chief Executive Officer Abdullah Abdullah linked the peace in Afghanistan with the stability of the region as he represented his country at the 14th Heads of Government Council meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in Zhenzhou, China.
The CEO discussed Afghanistan's pressing issues during his official statement ranging from terrorism, threats of surging Daesh to the issues of drug trafficking and poverty. Abdullah urged all participant states, especially the SCO member states, to take the issues of Afghanistan more seriously given its value to SCO member states.
"Words and rhetoric are not enough…," said Abdullah while addressing the participants on Tuesday, "…and we must translate them (words) into deliverables, constructive policy changes and results that can alter our environment in this part of the world for enhanced security, economic growth, expanded connectivity and development goals."
Afghanistan counts on the support it can get from the SCO member states, particularly China and Russia, not only financially and economically, but politically. “We all need a relatively peaceful environment …to realize our social and economic goals as elaborated in 2025 SCO Development Strategy”, Abdullah said in his speech.
On the economic front, Abdullah further emphasized the significance of economic support through SCO Interbank Consortium for Afghanistan's infrastructural projects to better facilitate connectivity to all SCO member states.
Abdullah's preceding and ensuing bilateral meetings duly included meetings with the SCO key member states whereby issues stated above were discussed in more detail and face to face. The CEO held bilateral meetings with the Prime Ministers of Russia, Kazakistan, Tajekistan and China. During these meetings, the leaders discussed matters of mutual interest.
While Kazakhstan and Tajikistan pledged their cooperation in every aspect possible, Russia and China both pledged their continued support to Afghanistan in all spheres possible.
Talking to journalists, the head of the Afghan delegation mentioned that SCO countries have pledged their continued support in helping Afghanistan become more peaceful and stable. He mentioned that Russia and China showed much interest in more infrastructure development projects in the future, including increased investments in various sectors in Afghanistan.
Abdullah further told the press that more meetings with the Russian and Chinese leadership would be held in the coming months to take the matters discussed here to the next level.
ENDS
