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XINHUA-PAKISTAN SERVICE

Pakistan lauds China’s proposal for early launching of anti-extremism treatyBreaking

December 03, 2017

Beijing, Dec. 3 (INP): Pakistan has welcomed China’s proposal of early launching of anti-extremism treaty to safeguard regional security. The proposal to this effect was placed before the recently concluded Shanghai Cooperation (SCO) member countries’ summit by the Chinese Premier Li Keqiang. Pakistani officials attending the Summit termed the proposal as good initiative to compel the member countries to check flourishing of extremist mind-set in the security’s related affairs. Li Keqiang urged the SCO member countries to approve an anti-extremism treaty at an early date to better safeguard regional security. The SCO members should speed up the process in their respective country to have the document approved and taken effect as soon as possible, Li said when attending the 16th SCO prime ministers' meeting, which was held this week in Russia's coastal city of Sochi. The SCO anti-extremism treaty was signed by eight member countries in June's Astana summit in Kazakhstan, but it will come into force with approvals in the member countries, namely China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, India and Pakistan. The document, which plays an exemplary role for international anti-extremism cooperation, shows the region's decisive resolution in the fight against the "three evil forces," namely terrorism, extremism and separatism, Li said. Security is the basic foundation for development and meets the expectations of people, Li said, calling for further regional security cooperation under the common, all-round, cooperative and sustainable security concept. In order to prevent the backflow of terror groups, the SCO members should promote security cooperative mechanism, deepen cooperation in the fields of information exchanges, training and security protection in large-scale events, Li said. He also suggested the establishment of a regional center to address security challenges and threats, and to augment cooperation in drug control and fighting cross-border crimes. The SCO meeting is the first of its kind after the organization's membership expansion in June to include Pakistan. Meanwhile, Premier Li Keqiang said China is willing to play a constructive role in Afghanistan's peaceful reconstruction. Li made the pledge when meeting with Afghan government Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah on the sidelines of the 16th meeting of the Council’s meeting. He said China supports a wide and inclusive political reconciliation process led and owned by the Afghan people, and is ready to assist Afghanistan in realizing its domestic political stability and economic development. Expanding pragmatic cooperation between China and Afghanistan on economy and trade can not be done without a safe and stable external environment, said Li, adding that China will enhance dialogue and cooperation with Afghanistan and Pakistan with the goal of achieving long-term regional stability and security in an early date. INP/J/AH