The 23rd Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Council of Heads of Government meeting has commenced at the Jinnah Convention Centre in Islamabad, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif welcoming heads of government from the participating countries.
World leaders and delegates arrived at the convention center, greeted by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar. The SCO secretary general was also welcomed by Prime Minister Sharif.
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This prominent event includes leaders from SCO member countries, such as China, Russia, Iran, India, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan. Iran is represented by its minister for mines and industries, while India has sent its external affairs minister. Observer members, Belarus and Mongolia, are also present.
The summit began with a group photo of the dignitaries, followed by Prime Minister Sharif’s inaugural speech, where he presented the national statement outlining Pakistan’s key policy positions.
On the sidelines, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is scheduled to meet with the Russian prime minister to discuss bilateral relations and mutual interests, further strengthening ties between the two countries.
Agenda Finalization
SCO National Coordinators have finalized the summit’s agenda, which includes the approval of eight to ten documents focused on economic cooperation and trade. A joint declaration is expected at the conclusion, covering areas such as climate change, natural disaster response, e-commerce, digital collaboration, trade, and transit.
On Tuesday evening, Prime Minister Sharif hosted the annual dinner for SCO heads and delegates. Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang was the first to arrive, symbolizing the event’s focus on fostering regional cooperation.
A notable handshake between Prime Minister Sharif and Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar marked a rare interaction between the two nations, with Jaishankar’s visit being the first by an Indian foreign minister to Pakistan in almost a decade, underscoring the complexities of their diplomatic relationship.
