Islamabad (Web Desk): The 23rd meeting of the Council of Heads of Government (CHG) of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) concluded in Islamabad, marking a pivotal moment for strengthening cooperation among member countries.
In his concluding remarks, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif officially transferred the chairmanship of CHG of SCO member states to the Russian Federation, expressing his appreciation to Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin for accepting this responsibility.
He said the next meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of Governments would take place in 2025 in Russia.
During the summit, PM Shehbaz reaffirmed Pakistan's steadfast dedication to the collective aims of the SCO, urging member states to place collaboration above political divides.
He called for a collective effort to build upon existing successes, confront shared challenges, and ensure that the SCO continues to serve as a pillar of stability and development that benefits all member nations.
PM condemned the escalating violence in Gaza, stating that the ongoing humanitarian crisis cannot be overlooked.
He stressed that the international community must act decisively to facilitate an immediate and unconditional ceasefire and to support the establishment of a Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders, with Al-Quds as its capital.
The heads of government from member states endorsed several significant documents during the meeting, including a joint communiqué and various agreements aimed at enhancing economic and trade cooperation, as well as decisions regarding the effective operation of SCO's permanent bodies.
PM Shehbaz also extended his gratitude to national coordinators, experts, and the staff of the SCO Secretariat for their dedicated efforts in preparing the meeting's documentation.
Earlier on Wednesday, the formal proceedings of the 23rd meeting of the CHG of the member states of the SCO started with a galaxy of regional leaders in attendance to discuss multisectoral cooperation.
PM Shehbaz Sharif chaired the session as the current chair of the Council.
The CHG meeting discussrd ongoing cooperation in economy, trade, environment, and socio-cultural linkages.
The participating leaders also adopted important organizational decisions to further enhance cooperation among SCO member states and approve the budget of the Organization.
Before the beginning of the proceedings, PM hehbaz warmly received the participating leaders at the venue before posing for a group photo.
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, Trade Minister of Iran Seyyed Mohammad Atabek, 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 a 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.
Having joined the SCO in 2017, Pakistan had assumed the rotating chair of the SCO CHG for 2023-24 at its previous meeting held in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan on October 26, 2023.