ISLAMABAD, October 13,2024: Pakistan has finalized all arrangements for the 23rd meeting of the Council of Heads of Government of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), set to take place in Islamabad from November 15 to 16.
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif will chair the high-level meeting in his capacity as the current Chair of the SCO Council.
The gathering will bring together leaders from various member states to discuss key issues related to economic cooperation, trade, environmental sustainability, socio-cultural ties, and organizational development.
The arrival of foreign delegations has already begun, with a 15-member delegation from China, a two-member delegation from Iran, and a four-member team from India already in Pakistan. Russia has also sent a substantial 76-member delegation, underlining the importance of the event.
Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang is expected to arrive today, accompanied by senior ministers and officials from China’s Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Commerce, the National Development and Reform Commission, and the China International Development Cooperation Agency.
The meeting will feature representatives from several SCO member states, including the prime ministers of China, Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Iran’s First Vice President and India’s External Affairs Minister will also be attending. Additionally, the Prime Minister of Mongolia, representing the observer state, and the Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers and Foreign Minister of Turkmenistan, as a special guest, will participate.
Apart from the main discussions, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is expected to hold important bilateral meetings with visiting heads of delegations on the sidelines of the summit.
The two-day meeting will focus on strengthening cooperation in a range of areas, including trade, environment, and social and cultural exchanges. It will also review the performance of the SCO and adopt key decisions to further enhance collaboration among member states. One of the important items on the agenda is the approval of the SCO budget for the upcoming period.
The summit marks a significant opportunity for Pakistan to reinforce its role in the SCO and strengthen diplomatic ties with key regional partners.