ISLAMABAD: Islamabad will host the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit on October 15 and 16 with major foreign leaders to attend the extra ordinary event.
The Historical Background of the SCO
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) was founded in 1996 by China, Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Kazakhstan in order to build mutual trust among member nations, to encourage regional cooperation under the name “Shanghai Five”.
Significance of SCO
Active participation in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) reflects Islamabad’s keen interest in regional peace, stability and socio-economic development. The forum provides a platform for Pakistan in order to explore greater economic relations and cooperation within the region in key areas such as investment, trade, innovation, energy, and entrepreneurship, transport and connectivity.
According to official website of Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, key priorities for Pakistan in SCO include cooperation in socio-cultural, economic, humanitarian spheres and other regional matters.
SCO is a significant platform for taking the vision of Eurasian connectivity to the next level. Pakistan’s location at the crossroads of South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East makes it an ideal trade conduit. SCO represents the collective voice as well as aspirations of more than 40% of the global population.
Pakistan’s Participation in SCO
According to Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Pakistan became a member of SCO in June 2017. Pakistan enjoyed the status of SCO Observer State from 2005 to 2017. Pakistan shares historical, cultural, civilizational and geographical relations with SCO Member nations. As Chair of SCO Council of Heads of Government since 26 October 2023, Pakistan has hosted “Conference on Transport Connectivity for Regional Prosperity” on 22 November 2023, and the expert-level meeting of the Special Working Group on Poverty Alleviation entitled “Leveraging Digital Technologies to Enhance Social SafetyNets in SCO Member States” on 06 December 2023.
Pakistan will be hosting a Meeting of the Council of Heads of Government of the SCO Member nations as well as a Meeting of Ministers of the SCO Member States Responsible for Foreign Economic and Foreign Trade Activities in Islamabad during 202.
