Pakistan has finalized preparations for the 23rd Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, which will commence today in Islamabad. The 23rd Meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of Government (CHG) will take place on October 16, 2024, under the leadership of Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who will deliver the opening speech.
Attending the summit are the prime ministers of China, Russia, Turkmenistan, and Tajikistan, along with India’s foreign minister. Delegations from seven other member states are also participating. Chinese Premier Li Qiang arrived in Islamabad on Monday, while other high-ranking officials, including Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, are set to arrive later today.
Delegations from Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, and Kazakhstan will be present, with Mongolia’s prime minister attending as an observer. The summit will focus on evaluating the performance of the SCO and enhancing cooperation and relationships among member states.
Iran’s first vice president and India’s foreign minister will also participate in the proceedings. Islamabad has been festively decorated for the two-day event, with illuminated streets, floral arrangements, and LED screens lining the main routes.
The Red Zone of the city is under tight security, with over 10,000 police officers deployed, and military forces overseeing key areas.
As the summit begins, Islamabad is brightly lit and adorned with Pakistani flags and symbols of the SCO member states. Major intersections are lit up, landmarks have been decorated, and banners welcome delegates, creating a celebratory atmosphere.
The two-day meeting, which is the second-highest forum in the SCO, will be chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Pakistan assumed the rotating chair of the SCO CHG for 2023-24 following the last meeting in Bishkek on October 26, 2023. Key leaders attending include Chinese Premier Li Qiang, Russian Prime Minister Mishustin, Kazakhstan’s Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov, and other regional leaders.