PM Shehbaz joins regional leaders at SCO summit in Kyrgyzstan's capital Bishkek

Bishkek (Web Desk): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday attended the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of State meeting in Kyrgyzstan, joining leaders from across the region for the high-level gathering.

Kyrgyz President Sadyr Nurgozhoevich Zhaparov received the Pakistani premier at the meeting venue.

The two leaders exchanged greetings and shook hands before standing with the other participating leaders for a group photograph ahead of the formal session.

The summit brought together leaders representing all 10 SCO member countries.

Those attending included Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, in addition to Prime Minister Shehbaz. President Zhaparov is presiding over the Council of Heads of State session as Kyrgyzstan currently holds the SCO’s rotating presidency for the 2025-26 term.

PM Shehbaz will further participate in the SCO Plus Summit, where representatives from countries outside the organisation as well as international bodies are expected to take part.

The meeting also carries significance for Pakistan as the country is set to assume the SCO Council of Heads of State chairmanship for the 2026-27 period.

Th delegation accompanying PM Shehbaz includes Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan, Communications Minister Abdul Aleem Khan and Information and Broadcasting Minister Attaullah Tarar, besides senior officials.

During his stay, PM Shehbaz will meet President Zhaparov for bilateral talks covering the broad spectrum of relations between Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan.

The two sides are expected to assess existing cooperation and explore opportunities to strengthen ties, with particular attention to trade and investment, energy, regional connectivity, education, tourism and exchanges between the peoples of the two countries.