A summit of the heads of government of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) countries has been held in Islamabad. Representatives of the organisation’s members, as well as Mongolia, which has the status of an observer state, arrived in the Pakistani capital. This is reported on the official
website of the Russian Government.

The central event of the two-day summit was the meeting of the Council of Heads of Government of the SCO countries. Opening the meeting, Prime Minister of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif, said that the joint work of the organisation’s representatives would contribute to development and stability in Eurasia.

“Your presence here today underscores our shared commitment to fulfilling the aspirations of our people by ensuring collective security and enhancing mutually beneficial cooperation for the sustainable development and prosperity of the SCO region”

Shehbaz Sharif Prime Minister of Pakistan

According to him, the fight against climate change is one of the priority areas of cooperation within the SCO. The Prime Minister also wished success to Russia, which will chair the SCO in 2025.

Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said it was important to develop trade and economic partnership between the SCO members, intensify transport, implement infrastructure projects, such as the North-South transport corridor, and expand scientific and technical cooperation. The Prime Minister drew attention to the creation of an independent financial system of the SCO and the use of national currencies in mutual settlements between the members of the association.

“The SCO has every opportunity to become one of the powerful centres of a fair multipolar world, which is now being formed. We together are capable of ensuring this for the economic prosperity of both our countries and the citizens who live in them”

Mikhail Mishustin Prime Minister of Russia

Premier of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China Li Qiang noted the positive dynamics of the development of relations and ties with partners within the SCO.

The Chinese representative said that the two sides firmly support each other on issues related to mutual interests. Strategic interaction demonstrates effectiveness, and practical co-operation is constantly being strengthened

In turn, Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar noted that the SCO is successfully addressing the tasks of strengthening mutual trust and good-neighbourly relations among the organisation’s members.

“The objective is to develop multi-faceted cooperation, especially of a regional nature. It is to be a positive force in terms of balanced growth, integration”

Subrahmanyam Jaishankar Indian Minister of External Affairs

According to him, the meeting of representatives of the SCO member states opens up broad opportunities to improve the competitiveness of national economies, attract additional investments, develop healthcare systems and confront climate challenges.

Prime Minister of Belarus Roman Golovchenko urged to intensify co-operation in the financial and infrastructure spheres.

“We propose to intensify work on the creation of the Development Bank and the SCO Development Fund, which can be used, among other things, to finance various joint projects in the field of sustainable development”

Roman Golovchenko Prime Minister of Belarus

The representative of the republic also spoke in favour of deepening integration processes and developing ties between such associations as the Eurasian Economic Union, CIS and SCO.

The proposals of his Belarusian colleague were supported by the head of government of Kyrgyzstan, Alykbek Zhaparov. He also emphasised the importance of continuing consultations on the establishment of the SCO Investment Fund, as well as expanding contacts in the humanitarian sphere.

Iranian Minister of Industry and Trade Seyed Mohammad Atabak, representing the Islamic Republic, said that developing ties and integration within the SCO is among Tehran’s foreign policy priorities. According to the minister, the country is ready to offer its economic capabilities, scientific and technological achievements and the advantages of its geographical location for the successful development of the association.

The meeting resulted in the adoption of a number of documents on interaction between SCO members and the functioning of the organisation. In particular, the participants signed the concept of development of the association’s New Economic Dialogue.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation was established in 2001 to strengthen economic and security cooperation in Eurasia. At the moment, the organisation has 10 members: Belarus, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan. Another 14 states have the status of SCO partners.

Photo: Government of the Russian Federation