18th MEETING OF THE COUNCIL OF HEADS OF STATE OF SHANGHAI COOPERATION ORGANIZATION QINGDAO SUMMIT, 2018 (2018-4)

On the eve of Qingdao Summit SCO Member States are issuing a commemorating stamp marking the occasion of the 18th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of Shanghai Cooperation Organization which will be held in Qingdao China on 09-10 June, 2018.

The summit marks a year since Pakistan joined SCO as full Member This is the first Heads of State Summit being attended by Pakistan as a Full Member. SCO currently has 8 member States which are India, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, "Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Heads of State of Member States who will attend the summit ficlude:

·         Prime Minister of the Republic of India H.E. Mr. Narendra Modi,

·         President of the Republic of Kazakhstan H.E. Mr. N. A. Nazarbayev,

·         Chairman of the People's Republic of China H.E. Mr. XI Jinping, President of the Kyrgyz Republic H.E. Mr. S. Sh. Zheenbekov,

·         President of the Russian Federation H.E. Mr. V. V. Putin,

·         President of the Republic of Tajikistan H.E. Mr. E.Rahmon

·         President of the Republic of Uzbekistan H.E. Mr. Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

A númber of documents/MOUs and Agreements will be signed during the conference which reflects high level of mutual trust and cooperation amongst the Member States.

H.EMr Xi Jinping, President of the People's Republic of China will Chair the meeting being the host of the CHS. The Council of Heads of State is the supreme decision-making body in the SCO. It meets once a year and adopts decisions and guidelines on all important matters of the organization.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is a permanent intergovernmental organization which is successor to the Shanghai Five, a security mechanism initially established to deal with the border problems between China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

SCO has evolved into a multi-faceted regional organization working for regional economic cooperation. It is based on "Shanghai Spirit" which is defined as mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, consultation, respect for cultural diversity and pursuit of common development. SCO also adheres to the principles of non-alignment, non-targeting any third country, and openness.

Pakistan became an Observer State of SCO in 2005 and following due process Pakistan became a member of SCO in 2017 at Astana Summit. Our membership fulfills a key foreign policy goal, inspired by a vision of a peaceful neighborhood and connectivity. Pakistan shares with SCO and its Members, deep rooted historical and cultural links and strong economic and strategic complementarities. Our interests and objectives intersect across a wide range of areas and issues.

Pakistan sees SCO as an important forum for regional cooperation. It includes our major development and strategic partners. We believe that it has a vital role in safeguarding peace and security in the region and its socio economic development. It promotes multifaceted cooperation in the region in a wide array of fields. It allows us to share perspectives, coordinate positions and develop practical and concrete cooperation with these important countries.

Pakistan is committed to enhancing our relations with all SCO members on the basis of its core values an enunciated in the Charter and the Shanghai Spirit.

Pakistan also sees SCO-RATS as an important and useful forum for cooperation against the common enemy of terrorism. Pakistan has been able to successfully combat terrorism on our soil and are ready to share our experiences in tackling the menace of terrorism through the SCO-RATS.

The initiatives of SCO on investment promotion, trade facilitation, customs cooperation, E-commerce, small and medium enterprises, rail and road connectivity and tourism cooperation will improve the living standards of our people and enhance peace and prosperity in the region.

SCO can be a major vehicle for cooperation under the belt & road initiative. All SCO countries are connected through the ancient Silk Route.

On 18^th meeting of the council of head of state of Shabghai Cooperation Organization Qingdao Summit, 2018, the commemorative postage stamp of Rs. 10/- denominations being issued by Pakistan Post on June 09, 2018.