Pakistan to host 23rd meeting of SCO CHG today

• PM Shehbaz to chair SCO CHG meeting at Jinnah Convention Centre.
• Leaders to mull cooperation among SCO states in different sectors.
• Shehbaz to host luncheon today for the participating leaders.
  

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will host the 23rd meeting of the Council of the Heads of Government (CHG) of the member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) on Wednesday.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will chair the meeting of the SCO CHG, the second highest forum within the SCO, at the Jinnah Convention Centre as Pakistan holds the rotating chair of the SCO CHG for one year.

Pakistan had assumed the rotating chair of the SCO CHG for 2023-24 at the previous meeting held in Bishkek on October 26, 2023.

The SCO member states are China, Russia, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Belarus, Iran and India, while 16 other countries are affiliated as observers or “dialogue partners”.

The leaders from the SCO member states attending the summit include 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, Iran's First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref, and Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.

Besides, Mongolia is participating in the summit as an Observer State being represented by Prime Minister Oyun-Erdene Luvsannamsrai and Turkmenistan as Special Guest represented by Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers Rashid Meredov.

Among other dignitaries attending the moot include SCO Secretary-General Zhang Ming, Director of Executive Committee SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) Ruslan Mirzayev, Chairman of the Board of SCO Business Council Atif Ikram Shaikh and Chairman of the Council of SCO Interbank Union Marat Yelibayev.

The largest delegation is from the Russian Federation. The Russian delegation arrived in Pakistan in two groups. Over 58 Russian journalists are part of the Russian prime minister's delegation.

PM Shehbaz yesterday hosted the welcome dinner for the dignitaries participating in the moot.

The visiting regional leaders will gather today at the Jinnah Convention Centre to discuss ongoing cooperation in the fields of economy, trade, environment and socio-cultural linkages and review the performance of the Organisation.

The leaders will also adopt important organisational decisions to further enhance cooperation among the SCO member states and approve the budget of the Organisation.

Before the formal session begins, PM Shehbaz will welcome the leaders at the venue, followed by a group photo.

The proceedings of the moot will start with PM Shehbaz's opening remarks before the statements by the participating leaders.

The prime minister will deliver his concluding remarks after the signing of different documents by the participating leaders.

Afterwards, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, along with SCO Secretary-General Zhang Ming will deliver media statements to discuss the highlights and outcomes of the two-day summit.

PM Shehbaz will also host an official luncheon today for the participating leaders.

Russian PM, Iran's trade minister arrive

Prime Minister of Russia Mikhail Mishustin and Iran's Minister for Industry and Trade Syed Mohammad Atabek arrived in Pakistan on Wednesday to attend the meeting.

Federal Minister for Defence Khawaja Muhammad Asif warmly received the Russian premier at Nur Khan Airbase. Children dressed in traditional attire presented bouquets to the foreign dignitaries.

Meanwhile, the Iranian dignitary was warmly welcomed by the Additional Secretary for Afghanistan and West Asia, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ahmed Naseem Warriach at Nur Khan air base.

The Iranian ambassador to Pakistan, Dr Raza Amiri Mughdam, was also in attendance.

A red carpet was rolled out to receive the distinguished guests, underscoring the importance of the event and the cordial relations between the two nations.

Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, in a statement, had said that the hosting of CHG by Pakistan reflected the abiding commitment of Pakistan to the purposes and principles of the SCO Charter and the values of the Shanghai Spirit.

Since becoming an SCO member in 2017, Pakistan has worked consistently and constructively to strengthen good neighbourly relations and mutually beneficial cooperation among SCO member states, she added.