KARACHI: Foreign Minister of Pakistan Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Thursday left for Goa India on his first-ever visit to the neighbouring country to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting.
The foreign minister is leading the country’s delegation at the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers meeting scheduled between May 4-5 in Goa.
Prior to leaving for India from Karachi, Bilawal reaffirmed Pakistan’s strong commitment to the charter of the SCO in a tweet.
In a short video, he said, “My visit illustrates how much Pakistan gives significance to SCO and how seriously it takes the SCO membership.”
On my way to Goa, India. Will be leading the Pakistan delegation at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization CFM. My decision to attend this meeting illustrates Pakistan’s strong commitment to the charter of SCO.
During my visit, which is focused exclusively on the SCO, I look… pic.twitter.com/cChUWj9okR
— BilawalBhuttoZardari (@BBhuttoZardari) May 4, 2023
The foreign minister said he looked forward to engaging bilaterally with the countries at the international forum.
Bilawal wrote on the microblogging site, “During my visit, which is focused exclusively on the SCO huddle, I look forward to constructive discussions with my counterparts from friendly countries.”
SCO huddle
According to the Foreign Office of Pakistan, the foreign minister would attend the SCO moot at the invitation of the current chair, Dr S Jaishankar, Minister for External Affairs of India.
The FO spokesperson said, “Our participation in the meeting reflects Pakistan’s commitment to the SCO charter and processes and the significance that Pakistan accords to the region in its foreign policy priorities.”
The sources privy to the development said the Indian civil aviation authorities contacted the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority and concluded the route for the Bilawal’s plane.
In addition to deliberating upon significant regional and global issues and signing some institutional documents, the SCO would finalise the decisions and agenda to be adopted by the 17th SCO Council of Heads of State Meeting scheduled in New Delhi on 3-4 July 2023.
The meeting would also witness the signing of memorandums of understanding with five countries, Bahrain, Maldives, Kuwait, Myanmar and the United Arab Emirates, to become dialogue partners of the SCO.
On the sidelines of the SCO, Bilawal would also meet his counterparts from friendly countries.
Besides Pakistan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and India are SCO member states.
