The Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit ended last weekend in Qingdao, east China's coastal city in Shandong Province. CGTN's correspondent Danial Khan spoke to Ashraf J. Qazi, a Pakistani diplomat, on the SCO's significance in the region. He has served as a special representative of the UN Secretary-General in Sudan and Iraq, and has been Pakistan's ambassador to the United States, India, Russia and China.

DANIAL KHAN ISLAMABAD "How do you look at the SCO, and in your view what is its significance in the region?"

AMBASSADOR ASHRAF J. QAZI SPECIAL REP. OF UN IN SUDAN, IRAQ "The SCO came into being in 2001, the year in which 911 happened. It was designed to respond to that kind of situation and to fight against terror, extremism and radicalism because many of the countries in the world felt threatened by these developments, although these developments were actually in part, generated by perception of injustice with no solution to that situation. SCO has its importance in that respect. Initially five, today eight, and I'm sure it's going to expand. Pakistan and India have become permanent members and now we have attended the summit for the first time as permanent members so it's very important."

DANIAL KHAN ISLAMABAD "Coming to the relationship of India and Pakistan, both have become new members of the SCO, do you think becoming a permanent member normalise the relationship of the countries?"

AMBASSADOR ASHRAF J. QAZI SPECIAL REP. OF UN IN SUDAN, IRAQ "It will not normalise the relationship but it will certainly place it in a positive context. We are both permanent members of the SCO now, we have just met in the summit meeting. The president of Pakistan was there and had a polite meeting with Modi, but this is only the straw in the wind, so it provides a context, a development and cooperative context, counter-terrorism context, and a positive context for India and Pakistan to also address their bilateral issues and other regional issues so it's a positive contribution. It can't replace the diplomacy of India and Pakistan towards each other which are essential, but I think these are assists and they can make a difference."