International

PM Shehbaz to visit Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on 15-16 Sep to attend annual meeting of CHS of SCO

ISLAMABAD, Sep 13 (SABAH): Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif will be visiting Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on 15-16 September 2022 to attend the annual Meeting of the Council of Heads of State (CHS) of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will be participating in the SCO-CHS on the invitation of President of the Republic of Uzbekistan His Excellency Shavkat Mirziyoyev, who would chair the meeting. The leaders of SCO Members and Observer States as well as heads of SCO organizations and other special guests would attend the meeting.

The CHS is the highest forum of the SCO, which considers and defines strategy, prospects and priorities of the Organization. At the forthcoming CHS, the SCO leaders will deliberate on important global and regional issues, including climate change, food security energy security, and sustainable supply chains. They would also approve agreements and documents that would chart the future direction of cooperation among SCO member states.

Besides attending the summit, the Prime Minister would hold bilateral meetings with other participating leaders on the sidelines of the CHS.

The SCO is a major trans-regional organization spanning South and Central Asia. Founded in 2001, the SCO upholds the values and principles enshrined in the “Shanghai Spirit” that include mutual trust, mutual benefit and pursuit of common development. Collectively, the SCO member states represent nearly half of the world’s population and a quarter of global economic output. SCO’s agenda of promoting peace and stability, and seeking enhanced linkages in infrastructure, economic, trade and cultural spheres, is aligned with Pakistan’s own vision for enhancing economic connectivity as well as peace and stability in the region.

Since becoming full member of SCO in 2017, Pakistan has been actively contributing towards advancing the Organization’s core objectives through its participation in various SCO mechanisms.