At SCO summit, Pakistan pushes for regional unity, joint economic advancements

Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday inaugurated a meeting of the Euroasian grouping Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), calling for regional unity and joint economic advancements.

“It gives me immense pleasure to welcome our distinguished guests to Islamabad, the green and beautiful capital of Islamabad,” Shehbaz said, welcoming the guests at the 23rd summit of the Council of Heads of Government, one of the two decision-making bodies of the grouping.

The premier added that the SCO represents the voice and aspiration of over 40 percent of the world's population, "rooted in the Shanghai spirit."

"Your presence today reaffirms our shared dedication to achieving the hopes of our people by ensuring collective security and fostering mutually beneficial cooperation for sustainable development and prosperity across the SCO region," he added.

He described the summit as further proof of the strength of the bonds and cooperation among their diverse nations.

Together, he said, they have the capacity to drive socio-economic progress, promote regional peace and stability, and enhance the quality of life for their citizens.

Shehbaz urged the leaders to use the SCO platform to exchange ideas, share best practices, and develop actionable plans that would benefit their economies and societies.

He expressed optimism for positive outcomes to emerge from their thorough discussions.

With SCO leaders at the 23rd SCO CHG meeting in Islamabad. pic.twitter.com/8J0JF5aOdE
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) October 16, 2024

Expanding CPEC

Shehbaz called for expanding China's ambitious Belt and Road Initiative, which aims to connect Europe and Asia through a network of roads, railways and sea routes.

"Pakistan strongly advocates for establishing a robust SCO connectivity framework, which not only serves as a gateway for regional trade, but also takes the vision of Eurasian connectivity and trade to the next level.

"To this end, projects such as the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and International North-South Corridor (INSC) can be expanded to improve connectivity, focusing on roads, railways, and digital infrastructure," he said.

CPEC is China's flagship $62-billion investment in Pakistan, part of its larger BRI project.

Shehbaz's comments come as Beijing has shown concern for the security of its citizens in the South Asian nation.

'Stable Afghanistan'

Touching upon Afghanistan, Pakistan's northwestern neighbor, Shehbaz said "a socio-economically stable" Kabul would offer member states "viable and economically beneficial trade and transit routes for better connectivity."

"While the international community must extend the needed assistance to help Afghan Interim Government in staving off the humanitarian crisis and preventing an economic meltdown, it must also demand from the Afghan Interim Government to take concrete measures to promote political inclusivity, as well as to ensure that its soil is not used for terrorism against its neighbors, by any entity," he said.

Pakistan has blamed the Taliban administration for using its soil to launch terror attacks into the country, a charge it denies.

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Foreign delegations arrive in Islamabad

Top officials, including heads of state, of members Russia, China, India, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Iran, are attending the summit, state-run Radio Pakistan reported.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang landed in the capital on Monday for a four-day visit, his first in 11 years. His visit comes days after the suicide bombing in Karachi that killed two Chinese engineers. This is the second attack on Chinese engineers in the country this year.

Mongolia’s Prime Minister Oyun-Erdene Luvsannamsrai will attend as an observer, while Turkmenistan's Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov will attend as a special guest.

The SCO Council of Heads of Government meeting will discuss ongoing cooperation in fields of economy, trade, environment, and socio-cultural linkages and review the performance of the organization.

Heads of foreign delegations will address the meeting after the opening address.

What is the SCO?

The SCO was established in 2001, evolving from the earlier Shanghai Five, led by China and Russia. From 2001 to 2008, the organization rapidly expanded, now comprising 10 members: Belarus, China, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.

The SCO functions as an economic and security bloc, governed by the Heads of State Council, which operates under a rotating presidency.

The organization covers 80% of the Eurasian region, accounts for 40% of the world’s population, and has a combined GDP. Pakistan and India became full members in 2017.