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Pakistan sees no contradiction for development of ties with Russia, China, US

Pakistan is searching for mutually beneficial solutions
Pakistan’s First Deputy Foreign Minister Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry  EPA/T. MUGHAL
Pakistan’s First Deputy Foreign Minister Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry
© EPA/T. MUGHAL

WASHINGTON, June 5. /TASS/. Islamabad is planning to develop relations of mutually beneficial cooperation with Russia, China and the United States and sees no contradiction in this, Pakistan’s First Deputy Foreign Minister Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry told reporters in Washington.

"There is enough space for Pakistan to have good relations of cooperation with all these countries," Chaudhry stressed. "Today people are searching for mutually beneficial solutions. And this is our approach to this issue," he said.

Commenting on the launch of the process for Pakistan’s accession to the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) due in July, the diplomat promised that Islamabad would make an active contribution.

"No doubt, the SCO is an important organisation," Chaudhry said. "We are glad to receive the signals coming from Russia, China and other SCO members that mean that they welcome Pakistan in the SCO. We believe that we can make a great contribution," he said.

The diplomat said Pakistan "is an important partner of the international community in this part of the world," adding that Islamabad seeks joint cooperation. He expressed confidence that both Pakistan and the SCO "will benefit from this cooperation."

Currently, members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, which was officially founded in 2001, are Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Mongolia, India, Iran, Pakistan, and Afghanistan enjoy the observer status.

In September 2014, Pakistan and India officially applied for full-fledged membership in the organization. Iran also seeks such membership. Belarus, Sri Lanka and Turkey have a status of a dialogue partner.