Islamabad (TDI): The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) continues to serve as a crucial platform for Eurasian nations to address common security concerns, seek stability, and promote development, experts said as the 23rd meeting of the Council of Heads of Government of SCO member states was being held in Pakistan.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang arrived in Islamabad on Monday to attend the high-level meeting, which comes at a time of global turbulence and significant geopolitical shifts.
During his visit, Premier Li is also scheduled to meet with Pakistani officials.
“China looks forward to working with all parties of the SCO to further advance the Shanghai Spirit, implement the outcomes of the Astana Summit, and deepen cooperation in various fields,” Li said in a statement upon his arrival.
Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin is also participating in the summit, which is being attended by top officials from Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Iran, and India.
Summit’s Agenda
The attendees are expected to focus on enhancing trade, economic, cultural, and humanitarian cooperation within the SCO.
A final joint communique will detail coordinated approaches to tackling global economic challenges.
Experts emphasized the SCO’s role in fostering stability and prosperity since its inception in 2001.
Also Read: SCO Summit: US Supports Right to Alliances
The organization has expanded its membership over the years, with countries like Belarus, Iran, Pakistan, and India joining, underscoring its relevance in addressing contemporary security and development challenges.
Li Haidong, a professor at China Foreign Affairs University, highlighted the SCO’s importance in a world marked by escalating crises such as the conflict in Ukraine and turmoil in the Middle East, according to Global Times.
Also Read: All You Need to Know About SCO Summit
China, which assumed the rotating presidency of the SCO for 2024-2025, has been instrumental in driving the organization’s progress, said Cui Heng, a scholar from the Shanghai-based China National Institute for SCO International Exchange and Judicial Cooperation.
Among the key areas of focus is the reform of counterterrorism mechanisms as member states face increasingly complex security threats.
