Pakistan's Foreign Minister Addresses SCO Council of Foreign Ministers in Goa, India

This political statement was made by Pakistan's Foreign Minister, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, on May 5, 2023, at the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers Meeting in Goa, India. In the speech, Pakistan's dedication to the SCO and its core values—mutual trust, equality, tolerance for cultural variety, and shared development—is emphasized. Zardari emphasizes Pakistan's strategic location as a prime trade route for the entire region when he discusses the need for improved regional economic connectivity and win-win collaboration. He also talks about how crucial it is to develop dependable supply chains, effective transportation routes, and collective networking capabilities in the area.

Zardari emphasizes the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor as a force multiplier for regional connectivity, highlighting the historical barriers to regional trade and investment and how CPEC offers all countries invested in the shared future of this region the opportunity to advance the journey and make the necessary connections toward complete regional economic integration.

The speech emphasizes the need for global efforts to address the problems facing the world, including the COVID pandemic, the climate issue, and poverty. Zardari emphasizes the necessity of overcoming poverty via teamwork and sharing experiences, using Pakistan's internationally famous Benazir Income Support Programme as an illustration of eradicating poverty while also empowering women. The lecture focuses on how economic growth is hollow when the majority of the world's poorest people live within our national borders.

Last but not least, Zardari emphasizes how crucial it is to work together to protect the earth from the effects of climate change and the necessity for the international community to deal with the problem of loss and damage. He also emphasizes that there are many problems and opportunities presented by the situation in Afghanistan. The address concludes with a demand to establish clear goals, serve the needs of the populace, and eradicate poverty.

Reference(APA):

Bhutto Zardari, B. (2023, May 5). Statement by H.E. Mr. Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Foreign Minister of Pakistan during the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers Meeting, 5 May 2023, Goa, India. Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Government of Pakistan. https://mofa.gov.pk/statement-by-h-e-mr-bilawal-bhutto-zardari-foreign-minister-of-pakistan-during-the-sco-council-of-foreign-ministers-meeting-5-may-2023-goa-india/