The 23rd Summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) will begin shortly in Islamabad, in which prime ministers from eight member states will participate, along with other dignitaries.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will personally welcome the visiting leaders upon arrival at the Convention Center. He will deliver the opening address, after which foreign dignitaries will make their speeches. Later, the leaders will sign official documents.
Foreign leaders started arriving in Islamabad yesterday, including Chinese premier Li Qiang and Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan Akylbek Japarov, for the two-day event, which has drawn high-level representation from across Central Asia, China, Russia, India, and other member states.
Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar is also expected to arrive today, marking the first visit of an Indian foreign minister to Pakistan in nine years. Special arrangements have been made at the Convention Center to welcome the delegates, which includes cultural displays and decorations.
Streets of the capital city have also been decorated with flags of visiting countries and banners to greet the foreign guests. Ahead of the summit, 13 historic agreements were signed between Pakistan and China, focusing on currency exchange, communication, industry, agriculture, and trade. Virtual inauguration of Gwadar Airport also took place on Monday during a ceremony, in which Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the project was a gift from the brotherly nation.
Both sides also reaffirmed their commitment to mutual support in various fields. Chinese Premier Li Qiang acknowledged Pakistan’s pivotal role in the fight against terrorism and reaffirmed his country’s support for Pakistan’s development. Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif said that it would have been much better if Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had attended the summit along with Jaishankar, which would have significantly improved relations between the two countries.
He made the remarks during an interview with an Indian journalist Barkha Dutt. Nawaz Sharif said he had always favored good relations between the two countries, and hoped for a meeting with Narendra Modi in the near future.
The theme for this year’s summit is “Strengthening Multilateral Dialogue; Striving towards a Sustainable Peace and Prosperity”. Discussions during the event will revolve around regional stability, expansion of economic connectivity networks through trade and investment, and climate change.
The event also offers Pakistan an opportunity to showcase its growing influence in regional affairs and strategic importance, especially regarding China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), both of which play important roles in boosting regional connectivity.
Pakistan will be advocating for greater collaboration on climate-related challenges, seeking support from fellow SCO members to address the environmental crises affecting the region. Moreover, multilateral efforts on trade and investment will also be high on the agenda, as Pakistan looks to expand its economic partnerships beyond existing projects
Besides the organization’s budget, the visiting leaders will discuss and internal performance. Moreover, they will discuss ways to streamline cooperation among member states. Decisions made during the summit are expected to set the tone for future collaboration on security, counter-terrorism, trade, and economic matters. Later in the evening, Shehbaz Sharif will host a dinner for the visiting dignitaries, providing an informal setting for further dialogue and engagement.