ISLAMABAD: Shehbaz Sharif will participate in a meeting of the Council of Heads of State (CHS) of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) nations via videoconference on July 4, the foreign ministry said.
The invitation to the prime minister was extended by his Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi, who currently chairs the SCO. New Delhi announced in May that it would hold the event in a virtual format.
Defence and foreign ministers of the bloc attended in-person meetings in India this year.
This meeting, being the highest forum of the SCO, will provide an opportunity for leaders to discuss significant global and regional issues and determine the future direction of cooperation among SCO member states.
Notably, this year’s CHS will also mark the inclusion of Iran as a new member of the organisation, further expanding its reach.
Prime Minister Sharif’s participation in the CHS highlights Pakistan’s strong commitment to the SCO as a vital platform for regional security, prosperity, and increased engagement with the region, his office said.
The SCO is a political and security union of countries spanning much of Eurasia, including China, India and Russia.
Formed in 2001 by Russia, China and former Soviet states in Central Asia, the body has been expanded to include India and Pakistan, with a view to playing a bigger role as a counterweight to Western influence in the region.
Kazakhstan will take over the presidency of the SCO after the July summit.
— With Reuters
