Pakistan has called upon the SCO states to intensify further cooperation to achieve the objectives of poverty alleviation and sustainable development.

The call was made by Deputy Chairman Senate Mirza Muhammad Afridi during his keynote speech at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Forum on Poverty Reduction and Sustainable Development in Yangling, China.

Deputy Chairman Senate also stressed the urgent need to promote and augment well-coordinated strategic partnerships especially towards agriculture development, value addition and modernization. 

Referring to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, the Senate deputy chairman said Pakistan is fully committed to the attainment of all SDGs including the SDG on poverty alleviation.

Meanwhile, on the sideline of the Forum, Mirza Muhammad Afridi also held a bilateral meeting with Chinese leadership, led by Vice Chairperson of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Ms. Shen Yueyue. 

He highlighted the all-weather strategic partnership and iron-brotherhood between the two countries. 

He also called for enhanced Chinese support to Pakistan to modernize its agriculture sector, build capacities and knowledge base of farmers. 

In her response, Shen said there is great opportunity and potential to further augment bilateral economic cooperation, strategic communication and bonds of friendship and mutual respect. 

She also agreed to deepen cooperation between the two parliaments, including the revival of parliamentary exchanges.