By Agha Iqrar Haroon
Islamabad, Pakistan: The 23rd SCO Head of States Summit started at the Convention Centre in Islamabad on Wednesday with Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif’s inaugural address.
In his opening remarks, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif said that a stable Afghanistan is needed for connectivity among SCO members and Afghan soil must not be used for injecting terrorism in neighboring countries that are SCO member states.
Summit shows that the region is together to find a collective way out to promote cooperation and is a testament to the strength of ties among the SCO member states
He added that climate change and achieving an agenda of sustainable development are some of the foremost issues to be discussed at the Summit. He was of the view that connectivity, economic well-being, and mitigating threats of terrorism globally are issues that are important for the population of the SCO’s member states. He believed that the world is going through a transitional phase and collective vision is needed to materialize the opportunities. He stated that the empowerment of women is a must to achieve global well-being.
PM Sharif stated that the presence of the SCO leaders at the Summit shows that the region is together to find a collective way out to promote cooperation and is a testament to the strength of ties among the SCO member states and the collaboration among the diverse nations. Sharif stated that SCO countries had immense potential to ensure peace, development, regional connectivity, and stability as well as improve the lives of their people and mitigate poverty.
He was of the opinion that SCO Summit is an excellent opportunity to exchange ideas and share best practices to promote economic cooperation for the betterment of their societies.
All member states, two observers, and dialogue members are attending this event that is being held under water-tight security manned by the Pakistan Army. Indian Prime Minister Modi did not attend the event rather, he sent his Minister of External Affairs Jaishankar. The biggest delegation arrived from Russia comprising 70 plus members under the leadership of Prime Minister Russia Mikhail Mishustin. For Pakistan, the presence of Prime Minister of China Li Qiang and Prime Minister Russia was an excellent opportunity to promote Pakistan a country that is the most important regional player.
China’s Premier of the State Council Li Qiang, Prime Minister of Belarus Roman Golovchenko, Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Olzhas Bektenov, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, Tajik Prime Minister Kohir Rasulzoda, Uzbek Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov, Kyrgyzstan’s Chairman of Ministers’ Cabinet Zhaparov Akylbek, Trade Minister of Iran Seyyed Mohammad Atabek, and Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar were received by PM Sharif at Jinnah Convention Centre. He also welcomed Mongolian Prime Minister Oyun-Erdene Luvsannamsrai and Turkmenistan Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers Rashid Meredov.
This two-day Summit SCO Summit 2024 has an agenda that includes:
Multilateral Cooperation: The summit will focus on enhancing multilateral cooperation among member states, discussing topical issues of regional and international importance.
Economic Cooperation: There will be discussions on economic collaboration, including trade and investment initiatives.
Security Cooperation: The meeting will address security concerns, including combating terrorism and enhancing regional stability.
Climate Change and Environmental Protection: Leaders are expected to discuss collaborative efforts to address climate change and promote sustainable practices.
Regional Stability: The summit will aim to strengthen regional stability and address ongoing conflicts to discuss combating Terrorism; economic Cooperation; climate change and environmental protection and strengthening multilateral dialogue.
Yesterday Prime Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif held meetings with the Tajikistan Prime Minister, Kyrgyzstan Cabinet Chairman, Turkmenistan Deputy Chairman Cabinet Ministers, and the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan. In his meetings, PM Sharif highlighted the need to strengthen close and mutually beneficial cooperation in various sectors, especially trade, investment, energy, and regional relations. Prime Minister Prime Minister of Tajikistan had a bilateral meeting with Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif. In the meeting, Prime Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif appreciated the active and constructive participation of Tajikistan in the annual meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Council of Heads of Government and said that as brother countries and regional partners. The Prime Minister emphasized that the two countries need to strengthen close and mutually beneficial cooperation in all areas of common interest, especially trade, investment, energy, and regional connectivity.
Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Kyrgyzstan Akilbek Japarov also met Prime Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif. Mentioning the long-standing brotherly relations between the two countries, the Prime Minister expressed his satisfaction over the development of bilateral relations between Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan. He stressed the need to increase cooperation in the fields of investment, and public and regional relations.
In the meeting of the Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Prime Minister emphasized the importance of working together in the fields of trade, energy, and regional relations. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif emphasized the importance of Pakistan’s long-standing, historical, and brotherly relations with Turkmenistan. The Prime Minister emphasized the need to increase high-level exchanges between the two countries. He emphasized the importance of both sides working together to maximize bilateral cooperation, especially in the areas of trade, energy, and regional connectivity.
Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif also met with the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The Prime Minister reiterated Pakistan’s determination to work together with all the member countries of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization to advance the principles and objectives of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. Emphasized the need to work for. The Prime Minister of Pakistan emphasized the need to maintain regular and high-level contacts through institutional mechanisms of bilateral partnership. The Prime Minister also emphasized the need to convene meetings of joint working groups on agriculture and trade as soon as possible. He reiterated his strong commitment to work with Pakistan and said that Kazakhstan views Pakistan as a major trade partner in South Asia.
