SCO offers new way to tackle India and Pakistan issues

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The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) could prove to be a new and effective method in resolving disputes between India and Pakistan according to an international relations expert speaking to CGTN.

Cui Hongjian, director of the Department for European Studies at the China Institute of International Studies made the comments as the Foreign Ministers' Meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Member States was being held in Beijing on April 24, 2018.

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi (R) and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov shake hands before their talks in Beijing on Apr.23, 2018./VCG Photo

SCO is a regional body incorporating two members, with Pakistan and India becoming members only last year, the organization as a whole has seen it grow from six members to eight members in the last year.

Cui said that the first priority of the summit would be to deal with new issues brought on by enlargement and he focused specifically on problems between India and Pakistan. He felt that historically, there have been long-term disputes between India and Pakistan as a result of border issues and sectarianism. Although he thought that the SCO could play an important role in resolving them, he did not think there was any immediate short term solution.

Talking to CGTN, Cui argued that the SCO’s basic principles of mutual trust, mutual benefit and mutual respect, should create a healthy and encouraging diplomatic culture. A culture that could bring great benefits to its members and contribute to dispute resolution between all the member states. In this case, the SCO should aid India and Pakistan to exchange ideas, and strengthen contacts through frequent meetings of senior officials and leaders.

Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif (left) and Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi (right) pose after their press conference at the Diaoyutai State Guest House in Beijing, China, Apr.23, 2018./VCG Photo

Cui stressed the positive potential of membership of the SCO saying it would be helpful to regional peace and citizens in the two countries will certainly be the main beneficiaries.

With eight members in the SCO India-Pakistan relationship was not the only subject Cui discussed with CGTN.

Cui said the importance of the SCO in fostering a healthy Sino-Russian relationship should contribute to world peace and stability. The summit has seen Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Beijing.