ISLAMABAD: The 23rd meeting of the Council of Heads of Government (CHG) of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is set to commence on Tuesday, where regional leaders will gather to discuss strengthening cooperation, particularly in trade, the economy, and cultural ties.
Delegates from participating nations have already begun arriving in the federal capital, which has been adorned with vibrant lights, floral arrangements, and flags and banners representing SCO member states to greet the dignitaries. LED display screens and murals have been set up at major intersections, which are also beautifully illuminated.
City landmarks have been decorated with colorful lights and Pakistani flags, offering picturesque spots for citizens and opportunities for social media content.
China’s Premier of the State Council, Li Qiang, along with a high-level delegation, has already arrived in the capital to attend the meeting and hold discussions with Pakistan’s civil and military leadership.
The two-day SCO CHG meeting, the second-highest forum within the organization, will be chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, as Pakistan currently holds the rotating chairmanship of the Council.
Pakistan took over the chairmanship for 2023-24 during the previous meeting in Bishkek on October 26, 2023, where the country was represented by then-interim Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani.
Leaders attending the summit include China’s Premier Li Qiang, Belarusian Prime Minister Roman Golovchenko, Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, Tajik Prime Minister Kohir Rasulzoda, Uzbek Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov, Kyrgyz Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers Akylbek Zhaparov, Iran’s First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref, and Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.