ISLAMABAD: The 23rd meeting of the Council of Heads of Government of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is being held in Islamabad on Wednesday. Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will preside over the summit.
Russia’s Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin arrived in Islamabad last night to attend SCO summit. Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif has warmly welcomed the Prime Minister of Russia at airport.
SCO Summit in Islamabad
Prime Ministers of Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan as well as Minister for Industry and Trade of Iran and External Affairs Minister of India attended the meeting. China’s Premier Li Qiang took part in the summit.
The SCO Council of Heads of Government meeting discussed ongoing cooperation in fields of trade, economy, environment and socio-cultural linkages and review performance of the SCO.
Pakistan’s PM Welcomes State Dignitaries
On Tuesday, Shehbaz Sharif welcomed foreign dignitaries, at a special dinner for the 23rd meeting of the Council of Heads of Government (CHG) of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in Islamabad.
At the dinner reception, Shehbaz Sharif warmly greeted and shake hands with the dignitaries, including Indian FM Jaishankar, in a rare encounter between the leaders of the two rival countries.
Despite the absence of formal talks between Pakistan and India, Jaishankar’s presence at the summit has drawn attention due to the longstanding tensions between the two countries. Diplomatic ties have remained largely frozen since 2019, when Pakistan downgraded its relations with India following New Delhi’s revocation of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status.
Their brief conversation marked the first direct contact between senior Pakistani and Indian officials in nearly a decade, even though both sides have ruled out any formal bilateral talks during the summit.
Regional Security, Connectivity and Climate Change
Earlier, Pakistan’s Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch announced on Tuesday that leaders from 12 countries will convene on Wednesday for the 23rd Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit, hosted by Pakistan.
Key topics for discussion will include climate change, regional security, connectivity, economic growth, and poverty alleviation.
During a media briefing at the SCO Media Facilitation Center at the Pak-China Friendship Centre, Baloch noted that the leaders would draft and announce a unanimous declaration at the conclusion of the conference.
China PM Attends SCO Conference in Islamabad
Earlier on Tuesday, Prime Ministers of China, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan arrived in Islamabad to attend the SCO summit. The PM Mongolia as Observer State and Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers and Foreign Minister of Turkmenistan as Special Guest have also reached Islamabad to attend the SCO Summit.
Pakistan’s federal capital has been adorned with colorful lights, floral decorations, and flags of the SCO member states to welcome the high-profile guests.
The SCO, founded in 2001 by China and Russia, now includes Pakistan, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Belarus, and Iran, with 16 other countries affiliated as observers or dialogue partners.
The SCO summit was concluded today after discussions on strengthening regional cooperation in areas such as trade, environment, and socio-cultural linkages.
