Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani participated in the Extraordinary meeting of the SCO's Foreign Ministers held on the sidelines of the 78th Session of UNGA, in New York, which inter alia discussed contemporary global and regional issues of concern to SCO as well as the ways to strengthen cooperation with UN mechanisms.

In his statement, Foreign Minister Jilani recalled the significance of SCO countries' longstanding historical, cultural, civilizational and geographical ties and stressed the importance of this bond as a beacon of stability, security and progress to address the challenges of global geo-political flux.

Reaffirming Pakistan's commitment to multilateralism, Foreign Minister Jilani stressed the central role of the UN in resolving international disputes and welcomed SCO's efforts to strengthen the pivotal role of the UN in combating the challenges of the modern world.

To this end, he emphasized the need for peaceful settlement of longstanding international disputes in accordance with the relevant Security Council resolutions and international law.

Drawing attention to the need for preserving peace and stability in the region, a prerequisite for economic growth and prosperity, he called upon Member States to use the SCO-Afghan Contact Group as a platform for practical cooperation with Interim Afghan Authorities.

The CFM affirmed Members States' commitment to vigorously following the Shanghai Spirit value of which was more relevant now than ever before.

The meeting was attended by the Foreign Ministers of Pakistan, Iran, Russian Federation, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan; Deputy Foreign Ministers of China and India as well as the Secretary General of SCO and Deputy Secretary General of the UN.