Daily Times

The 19th Summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation will be held in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on June 13 and 14. Heads of states and head of governments from the eight member states will represent their countries. Prime minister Imran Khan will represent Pakistan. The SCO is the key interstate organisation in Asia, which has the world’s largest population, and some of world’ largest economies and armies.

The disintegration of the Soviet Union in the late 1980s changed the bipolar world order. The collapse of the USSR allowed USA to emerge as the sole hegemon. With the concept of democratic idealism, the United States encouraged democratic and liberal values across the globe, and as a result, a complex and multifaceted phenomenon of globalisation was initiated. Under the process of globalisation, interaction among different nations in the form of international trade, ideas and cultural exchange flourished.

Intensification of cross-national cultural, economic, political, social, and technological interactions leads to establishment of transnational structures. In the realm of economy, protectionist and centrally controlled economies opened up, and got the form of unregulated or less regulated capitalist economies. Here it is important to mention that advancement in the modes of transportation and communication technology paved the way for globalisation.

In parallel to that, the concept of regional integration emerged, and various intergovernmental organisations came into being in various regions of the globe. These organisations were formed for cooperation in multiple fields including trade, economy and security. The SCO was one of them; it was established on June 15, 2001, with the aim of promoting healthy relations among member states, and ensuring peace, security and stability in the region. The SCO emphasises strengthening mutual confidence and effective cooperation in politics, trade, economy energy, transportation, tourism and culture.

Initially, the SCO comprised of six states – China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. In 2017, Pakistan and India also joined the SCO. Along with its eight members, Afghanistan, Belarus, Iran, and Mongolia have observer status and Armenia, Azerbaijan, Cambodia, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Turkey are its dialogue partners. In 2005, the SCO signed an MOU with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations for economic and financial cooperation, promotion of tourism, environment and natural resources management, social development, and energy cooperation.

Intensification of cross-national cultural, economic, political, social, and technological interactions leads to establishment of transnational structures

The Chinese Belt and Road Initiative with its two main variants, the 21st century maritime Silk Road and Silk Road Economic Belt, gave a golden opportunity to Asian states to further enhance their socio-economic ties. The BRI provides a wide range of connectivity between different corners of Asia. Largest population, industrial growth and excess energy recourses make Asia the future hub of geo-economics and geopolitics. Cooperation among regional states under regional organisations like the SCO, ASEAN, the Economic Cooperation Organisation, and the Gulf Cooperation Council can make integration more feasible and viable. For instance, ASEAN states with huge industrial potential can benefit from rich energy resources of Central Asian Republics which are members of the ECO and the SCO. Similarly, skilled labour from South Asia and China can boost industrial growth at a wider level.

Its prime location makes Pakistan a key player in the region. That is the reason that the China Pakistan Economic Corridor is considered the flagship project of the BRI. On one hand, the CPEC provides an opportunity to Pakistan to improve links with Central Asia, West Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. On the other, it is an opportunity to link East Asian economies with energy-rich Central Asian Republics through the 21st century maritime Silk Road.

The geostrategic location of Gwadar with its uniqueness of deep-sea port on warm waters of the Indian Ocean makes it a strategic gateway to the untapped world of North and Central Asia. Strategically, Gwadar is the ideal point on the main Indo-Pacific sea-lanes of communication from where 80 per cent of the energy resources transit towards the eastern hemisphere.

Economic corridors have emerged globally as tools of regional cooperation and development. Intergovernmental forums in the region like the SCO and the ASEAN should provide joint platforms for member states to join connectivity projects like the BRI to enhance further cooperation in the region to achieve larger development goals.

The 21st century is seen to be Asia’s century. Given its prime location and huge economic potential, Pakistan is right at the heart of Asia. Pakistan is indeed the gateway to Asia’s development. The BRI has been planned by Asia, it has been launched in Asia, and it will ultimately connect Asia from one corner to the other. So let us connect Asia with the BRI to connect the world with Asia.

The write is an International Relations Analyst based in Islamabad and can be reached at mmsb1000@gmail.com