Deputy Chairman Senate calls upon SCO states to boost cooperation for poverty reduction, sustainable development
There is a dire need to promote and augment well-coordinated strategic partnerships and synergies among SCO countries, aiming at poverty alleviation and sustainable development by sharing knowledge, expertise, good practices and latest technological innovations, especially towards agriculture development, value addition and modernization, said Hon’ble Senator Mirza Muhammad Afridi, Deputy Chairman Senate, in his key note address at the SCO Forum on Poverty Reduction at Yangling, Shaanxi province, China, here Monday.
Underlining that the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) provide a framework for countries to promote prosperity while ensuring that economic, social and environmental factors are taken into account, the deputy chairman Senate said Pakistan was committed to the SDGs. He also dilated upon the social safety net programs and other initiatives implemented by Pakistan to reduce poverty, provide social protection, and promote economic growth.
He also commended and acknowledged the efforts made by China, especially His Excellency President Xi Jinping, in lifting over 800 million people out of extreme poverty and transforming China into an inspiring global economic power.
Poverty reduction is a complex challenge that requires a modern approach, the deputy Chairman Senate said, urging China to provide support, technical assistance and expertise to Pakistan to modernize its agriculture sector, build capacities and knowledge base of farmers and employ latest techniques and equipment to increase quality output, create more economic opportunities for people at the grass roots, and promote inclusive progress and sustainable development.
He also highlighted fraternal Pak-China friendship based on mutual respect, trust, and cooperation, emphasizing that as we work towards sustainable development and poverty reduction, we look forward to further collaboration and support from China as only by working together, can we achieve our common goals and create a better future for our people.
Earlier, Mr. Wang Xiao, member of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Provincial Committee and Executive Governor of Shaanxi province, formally launched the the opening ceremony, highlighting the significance of collaborative efforts in tackling poverty and promoting sustainable development.
In his keynote address, Zhao Yide, Secretary of the Shaanxi Provincial Committee of the Communist Party and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Shaanxi Provincial People’s Congress, enumerated China’s remarkable achievements in eradicating poverty, future plans for rural revitalization, and the upgrade of agricultural products.
Praising China’s unparalleled success, Madam Shen Yueyue, Vice Chairperson of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and Chair of the Good-Neighbourliness, Friendship, and Cooperation Commission of the SCO, emphasized that China had surpassed the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals a decade ahead of schedule, calling upon SCO member nations to collaborate on poverty reduction and enhancing the well-being of their populations.
During the opening ceremony, distinguished representatives from Uzbekistan and Pakistan, including Uzbekistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Mr. Kuchkarov and Mirza Muhammad Afridi, Vice Chairman of the Senate of Pakistan, shared their countries’ experiences in poverty reduction. They acknowledged the pivotal role played by the Chinese president in lifting China out of poverty and stressed the importance of international cooperation in addressing this global challenge.
China’s rural revitalization and agricultural prowess took center stage in the forum, with Liu Huanxin, Administrator of the National Rural Revitalization Administration of China, highlighting the country’s commitment to rejuvenating rural areas and showcasing its agricultural strength.
Recognizing that poverty remains a persistent global challenge, exacerbated by the ongoing pandemic and regional conflicts, Zhang Ming, the Secretary-General of the SCO, called for concerted efforts and innovative strategies to overcome these obstacles and achieve sustainable development.
Other speakers included Uzbekistan’s Deputy Prime Minister, Mr. Kuchkarov, Liu Huanxin, Administrator of National Rural Revitalization Administration of China, Zhang Ming, the Secretary-General of SCO, Deputy Minister of Labour, Social Security, and Migration of Kyrgyzstan, Zhyldyz Polotova.
The opening ceremony also witnessed the launch of two pivotal reports: ‘Poverty Reduction and Development in SCO Member Countries’ and ‘Agricultural Integration and Standardization in SCO Member Countries.’ These reports provide valuable insights and analyses, serving as essential resources for member states in their poverty reduction endeavors.
On margins of the SCO conference, the deputy chairman Senate also held bilateral meetings with Chinese leadership. During his meeting with Madam Shen Yueyue, Vice Chairperson of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and Chair of the Good-Neighbourliness, Friendship, and Cooperation Commission of the SCO, he highlighted the historic cooperative friendship and partnership between the two brotherly countries.
He also recalled the strong defence and strategic relations yielding promising collaborative milestones like CPEC, Karakorum Highway, Heavy Mechanical Complex, and defence equipment including tanks and JF-17 Thunder. He also called for enhanced Chinese support to Pakistan for poverty reduction and sustainable development, and upgrading its agriculture sector and practices on modern lines.
He said SCO was an important platform to build partnerships for peace, stability and shared prosperity. He also commended and acknowledged China for boycotting G20 summit convened by India in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, thereby supporting Pakistan’s principled stance on the critical issue in line with the UNSC resolutions.
Madam Shen Yueyue also referred to strong ties and a long history of robust strategic partnership between the countries. She said there was a great opportunity and potential to further augment the bilateral economic cooperation, strategic communication and mutual respect. She also said that China always supported Pakistan’s territorial integrity and fight against terrorism, adding that China was ready to deepen development cooperation, green development, and provide assistance towards poverty reduction, industry, minerals, IT and other sectors.
Meanwhile, the deputy Chairman Senate also visited the Northwest A&F University where he met with the President, the faculty and Pakistani students. The deputy chairman stressed undertaking increased students exchange programmes and training personnel, especially in the agriculture sector. He said considering China’s remarkable progress in innovative agricultural, farming and irrigation techniques, Pakistani students and farmers could benefit a lot through trainings, degree programmes and skills development in China.
He also visited Yangling Demonstration Zone, Shannxi Provine, to see Smart Agriculture Demonstration Zone. He also visited Apple Planting Demonstration bases, Dryland Farming Institute in Northwest A&F University.
Editor: Raja Kamran