ISLAMABAD: The 23rd meeting of the Council of Heads of Government of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) concluded on Wednesday with resolve to prioritize collaboration and cooperation.
According to official media, SCO summit was concluded today, marking a major milestone in fostering closer collaboration among member nations. In his closing remarks, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced the transfer of the CHG chairmanship to the Russia and expressed his gratitude to Russia’s Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin for assuming the role.
The PM noted that the next meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of Government to be held in 2025 in Russia. “The council commends PM Mikhail Mishustin and expresses its complete support for the Russian chairmanship,” he said.
Shehbaz Sharif reaffirmed Pakistan’s unwavering resolve to the shared goals and objectives of the SCO, emphasizing the significance of prioritizing collaboration over political differences.
“Let us focus on cooperation instead of political divisions, build on our successes, resolve common challenges, and work together in order to ensure that the SCO remains a beacon of stability, development, and mutual benefit for all our peoples,” the PM said.
SCO Summit in Islamabad
Russia’s Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin attend the SCO summit in Islamabad. Prime Ministers of Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan as well as Minister for Industry and Trade of Iran and External Affairs Minister of India attended the meeting. China’s Premier Li Qiang took part in the summit.
Pakistan’s PM Welcomes State Dignitaries
On Tuesday, Shehbaz Sharif welcomed foreign dignitaries, at a special dinner for the 23rd meeting of the Council of Heads of Government (CHG) of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in Islamabad.
At the dinner reception, Shehbaz Sharif warmly greeted and shake hands with the dignitaries, including Indian FM Jaishankar, in a rare encounter between the leaders of the two rival countries.
Despite the absence of formal talks between Pakistan and India, Jaishankar’s presence at the summit has drawn attention due to the longstanding tensions between the two countries. Diplomatic ties have remained largely frozen since 2019, when Pakistan downgraded its relations with India following New Delhi’s revocation of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status.
Their brief conversation marked the first direct contact between senior Pakistani and Indian officials in nearly a decade, even though both sides have ruled out any formal bilateral talks during the summit.
China PM Attends SCO Conference in Islamabad
Earlier on Tuesday, Prime Ministers of China, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan arrived in Islamabad to attend the SCO summit. The PM Mongolia as Observer State and Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers and Foreign Minister of Turkmenistan as Special Guest have also reached Islamabad to attend the SCO Summit.
Pakistan’s federal capital has been adorned with colorful lights, floral decorations, and flags of the SCO member states to welcome the high-profile guests.
The SCO, founded in 2001 by China and Russia, now includes Pakistan, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Belarus, and Iran, with 16 other countries affiliated as observers or dialogue partners.
The SCO summit concluded today after discussions on strengthening regional cooperation in areas such as trade, environment, and socio-cultural linkages.
