ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is hosting the 23rd meeting of the Council of Heads of Government (CHG) of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Islamabad, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif presiding over the two-day summit starting today.
The meeting brings together high-ranking officials from across the region, with heads of government and ministers from key SCO member states, observer states, and special guests. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will deliver the opening address, underscoring Pakistan’s role as the current chair of the SCO CHG.
Delegates attending include the prime ministers of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and the Premier of the State Council of China, Li Qiang.
Iran is represented by its First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref, while India’s External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar has also arrived in Islamabad. The Prime Minister of Mongolia is attending as an observer, and Turkmenistan is represented by its Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers Rashid Meredov.
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Chinese Premier Li Qiang arrived in Islamabad earlier on Monday, while other dignitaries including Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin and the prime ministers of Kazakhstan, Belarus, and Tajikistan also landed at Islamabad’s Nur Khan Airbase. The visiting dignitaries were warmly received by Pakistan’s senior ministers, including Musadik Malik, Minister for Petroleum, and Azam Nazeer Tarar, Minister for Law.
The meeting’s agenda includes discussions on strengthening cooperation in areas such as trade, economy, environment, and socio-cultural linkages. It also aims to review the overall performance of the SCO and explore ways to enhance regional cooperation. Pakistan assumed the rotating chair of the SCO CHG for 2023-24 during the previous meeting held in Bishkek in October 2023.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will emphasize Pakistan’s commitment to fostering deeper ties within the SCO framework, particularly in trade and cultural exchange. The summit also provides a platform for bilateral discussions between leaders, as regional cooperation takes center stage.
The two-day event will result in new initiatives to boost regional integration and collective development.
