–PM urges SCO to finalise arrangements for trade in local currencies, set up SCO bank–Says SCO needs to advance goals of peaceful co-existence at regional, global levelBISHKEK: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday urged the member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) to finalise arrangements for trade in local currencies and set up SCO Fund and SCO Development Bank to catalyse the trans-regional development agenda. He said the SCO member states should galvanise the “Shanghai Spirit” to strengthen the organisation’s core mandate of mitigating the risks of conflict, fostering confidence, and promoting stability. He proposed setting up SCO culture and tourism corridors, clustering multiple SCO destinations into a single package. He said SCO member countries need to bridge the gap between region-specific research and policy by launching feasibilities for creating SCO centres of excellence on poverty alleviation, de-radicalisation, connectivity, and new technologies. He said enduring peace and prosperity in South Asia will remain elusive until the main dynamic in South Asia is shifted from confrontation to cooperation.

Source: Pakistan Today June 14, 2019 13:23 UTC