Pakistan PM lands in China for SCO summit in Tianjin

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Tianjin, China, on Saturday to lead the country's delegation at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Council of Heads of State (CHS) and the SCO CHS Plus meeting.

The summit, taking place from August 31 to September 1, will address key regional and global issues and strengthen the SCO’s role in fostering cooperation, according to the Foreign Office.

The SCO CHS Summit, scheduled for Sunday and Monday, is set to convene leaders from the organization’s member states, including Pakistan, Belarus, China, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. This comes just days before a large military parade in Beijing to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived earlier in the day for the summit, signaling the importance of the gathering in advancing multilateral diplomacy across the region.

The SCO CHS Plus meeting, held in an expanded format, will include leaders from Mongolia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Cambodia, Nepal, Türkiye, Egypt, the Maldives, Myanmar, Turkmenistan, Malaysia, Laos, Vietnam, and Indonesia, as well as the UN Secretary-General and heads of various international organizations. The expanded summit will focus on broader regional and global priorities, facilitating deeper dialogue among a diverse set of leaders.

At the SCO CHS Summit, Prime Minister Sharif will present Pakistan’s perspectives on pressing regional and global issues. He is expected to emphasize strategies to enhance the SCO’s role in promoting regional stability, cooperation, and collective security.

The SCO CHS, the highest decision-making body within the organization, provides strategic, political, and security guidance. The summit will adopt key declarations and decisions to shape the SCO’s future agenda. Meanwhile, the SCO CHS Plus meeting will promote multilateral engagement, with a focus on enhancing security, fostering economic collaboration, and addressing global challenges like climate change and sustainable development.

During the CHS Plus meeting, Prime Minister Sharif will reaffirm Pakistan’s commitment to advancing multilateralism, improving regional security, and pursuing sustainable development goals.

On the sidelines of the summit, the Pakistani premier will engage in bilateral talks with heads of state and government from SCO member states and invited leaders. These meetings will aim to strengthen diplomatic ties, enhance cooperation, and address key issues affecting the region.