Beijing (Agencies): President Hussain and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi shook hands and held a brief chat at the 18th meeting of the Council of Heads of States of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in Qindgao on Sunday, although the two will reportedly not hold a bilateral meeting at the summit.
The 18th meeting of the SCO urged member states to consider the establishment of a development fund to eliminate terrorism and extremism, Radio Pakistan reported.
President Hussain is attending the SCO summit at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping who chaired the meeting at the Qingdao International Conference Centre in the cultural and port city of Shandong province.
This is the first summit being held after the inclusion of Pakistan in the SCO. Previously, Pakistan had attended the summit only as an observer.
President Hussain, while addressing the summit, said that Pakistan has rendered unprecedented sacrifices in the war against terror to bring peace to the region.
He said that the law and order situation has improved in Pakistan over the last few years due to effective efforts against terrorism and extremism.
He urged leaders in attendance to unite to meet the challenges faced by them and advised them to take effective measures for capacity building and skill development of the youth in member states.
He welcomed an offer of cooperation by Afghan President Ashraf Ghani to the Taliban for durable peace in Afghanistan, and said that a ceasefire in Afghanistan is a positive sign for regional peace. He added that Islamabad and Kabul both are working on a comprehensive bilateral strategy to establish peace in Afghanistan.
He said that peace and stability in Afghanistan is a common objective, and that Pakistan is playing its due role in this regard.
