Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif presides over the 23rd summit of the Council of the Heads of Government (CHG) of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) at Islamabad’s Jinnah Convention Centre.
The SCO includes major nations like China, India, Russia, Pakistan, Iran, and several Central Asian countries. Additionally, 16 other nations participate as observers or “dialogue partners.” Pakistan joined the SCO as a full member at the 2017 summit in Kazakhstan, an event attended by then-PM Nawaz Sharif, who has recently spoken about reviving ties with India.
Summit Proceedings and International Participation
As the current Chair of the CHG, PM Shehbaz welcomed the delegates to Islamabad, underscoring the SCO’s significant role in representing over 40% of the global population. He described the summit as reflecting strong ties and collaboration among diverse nations, aiming to foster regional socio-economic progress and stability. He encouraged the leaders to use the summit to exchange ideas, share best practices, and formulate actionable plans for economic and societal benefit.
Leaders from SCO member states convened in Islamabad on Tuesday, focusing on trade, economic cooperation, and regional connectivity. The summit’s agenda includes approving the organization’s budget and discussing critical economic collaboration issues. Notably, eight member states are represented by their heads of government, while Iran and India sent their respective ministers due to last-minute changes.
Read: SCO Council Meeting in Islamabad: PM Shehbaz Sharif Chairs High-Level Event
China’s Premier Li Qiang is in attendance, marking his first visit to Pakistan in 11 years. Mongolia participates as an observer, and Turkmenistan as a special guest. Several international organizations are also present, enhancing the dialogue and potential for comprehensive regional cooperation.
Read: Pak-China Sign Key MoUs and Inaugurate Gwadar Airport
Today, the summit’s activities commenced with the arrival of participants at the Jinnah Convention Centre. Following group photos, PM Shehbaz delivered opening remarks. The morning session will conclude with statements from other member states and the signing of key documents. In the afternoon, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and SCO Secretary-General Zhang Ming will update the media on the summit’s highlights.
On the first day, PM Shehbaz held bilateral meetings with Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Belarus, and Turkmenistan leaders. He also hosted a welcome dinner for the dignitaries, during which he briefly interacted with India’s Minister for External Affairs, Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.
