Officials from an international security group founded to counter Western alliances met in Pakistan's capital on Wednesday to discuss how to boost security cooperation and economic ties.
The meeting of the heads of the council of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization began with opening remarks from the host country's leader, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, whose government is struggling against insurgencies and one of the country's worst economic crises.
SCO was founded in 2001 by China and Russia to counter Western alliances. Other members include Iran, India, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
Sharif thanked the guests for attending, saying "your presence here today underscores our shared commitment to fulfilling the aspirations of our people to ensure collective security and to enhance mutually beneficial cooperation for sustainable development and prosperity of the SCO region."
Sharif also called for a peaceful Afghanistan, and said its soil should not be used for violence against any country.
