ISLAMABAD - The summit meeting of Shanghai Cooperation Organization has started in the federal capital. The Prime Minister of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif delivered the inaugural address of the inaugural session.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that he welcomes the heads of all countries participating in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization meeting in Islamabad. It is an honor for us to host the SCO Summit
He said that the SCO countries are 40% of the world's population, the promotion of regional cooperation and connectivity is very important for sustainable development. Today's important meeting is providing an important opportunity to increase regional cooperation. We have to provide better quality of life and facilities to our people, for which we have to utilize the available opportunities.
For economic development, stability and prosperity, we must move forward, Shahbaz Sharif
Shahbaz Sharif said in his presidential address that we have to move forward together for economic development, stability and prosperity. We are facing change and evolution in the global scenario. The current situation calls for collective action and we have to move forward using collective wisdom. Today there is a need to focus on the areas of tourism linkages, green development.
Speaking at the opening session of the conference, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif further said that the SCO countries have to consider a new strategy for economic cooperation. He said that the effects of climate change are currently affecting the whole world, while Pakistan is the most affected by climate change.
He said that Pakistan was badly affected by the floods of 2022 and millions of people were forced to live under the open sky while millions of acres of land were destroyed which affected agriculture. Due to the destruction caused by the flood, the economy was also damaged. SCO countries also need a better strategy in this regard.
The use of Afghan land for terrorism must be stopped, Prime Minister
The Prime Minister further said that Afghanistan is a very important country for regional development and stability, but the use of Afghan land for terrorism must be stopped. The international community should focus on humanitarian aid in Afghanistan. Countries in the region have many opportunities for cooperation in the transport and energy sectors. Pakistan is entering the second phase of the Economic Corridor, the Belt and Road initiative for regional development.
Shahbaz Sharif said that priority should be given to measures to eradicate poverty from the region. Poverty is not only an economic but also a moral problem, so to eradicate poverty, we must focus on solving the root causes. Collective action is necessary to deal with environmental threats.
If relations between neighbors are not good, it is important to address the reasons, India
Indian External Affairs Minister Jaishankar congratulated Pakistan on assuming the chairmanship of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Heads of Council.
Addressing the summit, Jaishankar said that India will fully cooperate with Pakistan during the term of SCO chairmanship.
He said that our meeting is being held at a time when the world is going through difficult times. There are two major conflicts going on that are affecting the entire world. Corona epidemic has badly affected the developing countries. SCO member countries face various challenges including debt.
The Prime Minister welcomed the guests of the conference
The 23rd meeting of the Council of Heads of Government (CHG) of the member countries of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) began at the Jinnah Convention Center Islamabad under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif. The participating heads of government received a warm welcome on arrival.
Most of the heads of government and ministers of the member countries participating in the meeting had reached the federal capital Islamabad yesterday, while Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang is already in Pakistan on an official visit.
Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, Tajikistan Prime Minister Khair Rasulzadeh, Kyrgyz Prime Minister Zaparov Akilbey, Belarusian Prime Minister Roman Golovchenko, Kazakhstan Prime Minister Oladas Banktinov, Tajikistan Prime Minister Kohar Rasulzadeh attended the Shanghai Cooperation Organization meeting. And the Prime Minister of Uzbekistan Abdullah Arpiov is participating.
Apart from them, Iran's Vice President Mohammad Arif and Indian Foreign Minister Jaishankar are also participating in the SCO conference, while Mongolia is participating as an observer country represented by the Mongolian Prime Minister.
Highlights of the summit
In the meeting, the leaders of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization will discuss the ongoing cooperation between the SCO member countries in the fields of economy, trade, environment and socio-cultural relations and will consider other issues along with the promotion of mutual relations.
The Council of Heads of Government (CHG) is the second highest forum of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization chaired by Pakistan and Prime Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif is currently the chairperson of the Council.
In addition to the leaders of China, Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Belarus, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, India, Iran and other countries, observer countries and dialogue partners are participating in the two-day summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
It should be noted that Pakistan assumed the chair of the Council of Heads of Government for the year 2023-24 in the meeting held in October 2023 in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan.
