Islamabad (TDI): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is set to chair the 23rd Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Islamabad today (Wednesday).
The two-day summit commenced on Tuesday with a welcome dinner hosted by PM Shehbaz for dignitaries from SCO member states.
The Pakistani premier will lead the summit’s plenary session, where leaders from member states are expected to discuss trade, economic cooperation, and regional connectivity.
The summit will also focus on approving the SCO’s budget and addressing critical challenges faced by member states, including economic hurdles and climate change.
Representatives from international organizations such as the Commonwealth of Independent States and the European Economic Community are also in attendance.
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Footage from the previous evening showed PM Shehbaz welcoming officials, including India’s External Affairs Minister Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.
Their brief exchange attracted significant attention, as this marks the first high-level ministerial visit from India in nearly a decade.
Several heads of government have already arrived in Islamabad, including Belarusian Premier Roman Golovchenko, Tajik PM Qohir Rasulzoda, and Kazakh PM Olzhas Bektenov, with more dignitaries set to join.
India is represented by their respective trade and external affairs ministers, while Mongolia is participating as an observer.
Bilateral Meetings
During bilateral meetings on Tuesday, PM Shehbaz engaged with various leaders, discussing enhanced cooperation in areas such as trade, investment, energy, and regional connectivity.
He also expressed Pakistan’s commitment to deepening ties with countries like Kazakhstan, Belarus, and Turkmenistan.
The SCO, which counts China, India, Russia, Pakistan, and Iran among its members, is one of the largest political and security organizations in the world.
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Pakistan has been a full member since 2017, and this year’s summit is seen as a reflection of its commitment to the SCO’s mission and the broader goals of regional cooperation under the “Shanghai Spirit.”
The summit will conclude with a document-signing ceremony, followed by a press briefing by Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and SCO Secretary-General Zhang Ming to outline the summit’s key outcomes.
An official luncheon is scheduled for the participating leaders later in the day.
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