SCO Summit concludes with focus on collaboration, economic integration

October 18, 2024 (MLN): The 23rd meeting of the Council of Heads of Government (CHG) of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) concluded with a significant advancement in collaboration among member states.

The meeting was held under the chairmanship of Pakistan's Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, who officially transferred the chairmanship to Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin.

In his closing remarks, PM Shehbaz expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Mishustin for taking on the chairmanship and announced that the next SCO CHG meeting will be held in Russia in 2025.

“This council congratulates the Prime Minister of Russia and expresses its readiness to fully support the Russian chair,” he stated.

PM Shehbaz reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to the SCO's common goals, emphasizing the need to prioritize collaboration over political differences.

“Let us work hand in hand to ensure that the SCO remains a beacon of stability, development, and mutual benefits for our peoples,” he said.

The prime minister also condemned the ongoing violence in Gaza, calling for an immediate ceasefire and the establishment of a Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders, with Al-Quds as its capital.

During the meeting, the heads of government signed several documents, including a joint communiqué aimed at enhancing multilateral trade, economic cooperation, and electronic commerce within the SCO.

The communiqué highlighted the necessity of implementing the “New Economic Dialogue” concept and effectively utilizing digital economies and technological innovations to boost regional competitiveness.

The SCO, founded in 2001 by China, Russia, and several Central Asian nations, has expanded to include countries such as India and Pakistan, becoming a significant regional alliance.

The meeting commenced with PM Shehbaz’s keynote address, attended by representatives from member countries, including China, India, Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Belarus.

The prime minister also extended his gratitude and congratulated all national coordinators, experts and staff of the SCO Secretariat who had worked diligently to finalize the documents.

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