Islamabad, 25 July 2022 (TDI): Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif met the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s (SCO) Secretary-General, Ambassador Zhang Ming. The officials from the SCO secretariat also accompanied the Secretary-General.
SCO Secretary-General Ambassador Zhang Ming is on a four-day visit to Pakistan. He invited the Prime Minister to join the bloc’s annual summit which will be held in Uzbekistan. The summit will take place on September 15 and 16 this year.
Remarks of Pakistani Prime Minister
In the Twitter message, the Pakistani Prime Minister reiterated Pakistan’s strong commitment to the principles of the SCO and the Shanghai spirit during the meeting.
In my meeting with SCO Secretary General, I reiterated Pakistan’s strong commitment to the principles of SCO & Shanghai Spirit. The SCO has a great role in strengthening international solidarity & cooperation at a time of global challenges, especially high fuel & food prices.
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) July 24, 2022
He commended the organization’s role in strengthening international solidarity. Furthermore, he commended its spirit of cooperation amid global challenges, particularly the rising prices of food and fuel.
Prime Minister reiterated that the Pakistani government is willing to further promote cooperation with SCO. Cooperation will be in the fields of trade and economy, connectivity, and communication.
It also included energy and agriculture, climate change, and information technology. He also added that there is immense scope for intra-SCO trade.
SCO Delegation visit to Pakistan
During its stay in Islamabad, the delegation has conducted meetings with the Pakistan Foreign Minister, Ministers of Commerce, Information Technology, Climate Change, and Maritime Affairs.
The SCO Secretary-General also spoke at the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI). He also met with business leaders and entrepreneurs.
According to a statement released by the Foreign Office, this visit will provide an opportunity for Pakistan to engage with the SCO Secretariat. SCO mechanisms are effective in advancing shared regional security and economic goals.
It further provides an important platform for Pakistan to strengthen its deep-rooted and historic ties with the member states. It promotes socio-economic cooperation for mutual benefit across diverse areas.
