An army vehicle passes a welcome billboard with pictures of China’s Prime Minister Li Qiang, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari on the road leading to the venue of the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Islamabad Proceeds with. , Photo Credit: AP
Extensive security measures have been taken as Pakistan prepares to host the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Islamabad starting Tuesday (October 15, 2024) on Monday (October 14, 2024).
Foreign delegations have flocked to Pakistan to participate in the mega international event being held in the shadow of increasing terror attacks across the country and continued protests by jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s party threatening to disrupt the law and order situation. Has started arriving.
Foreign Minister S Jaishankar The Prime Ministers of China and Russia are attending the two-day 23rd SCO Council of Heads of Government (CHG) meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) here to discuss ongoing cooperation in economy, trade and environment.
A traffic police officer stands next to the logo of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) displayed on the road leading to the venue of the upcoming SCO summit in Islamabad. , Photo Credit: AP
The CHG meeting will discuss ongoing cooperation in the fields of economy, trade, environment, socio-cultural relations and review the performance of the organization.
The leaders will take important organizational decisions and approve the organization’s budget to further enhance cooperation among SCO member states.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, as the current Chairman of the CHG, will chair the upcoming CHG meeting.
According to the Foreign Office, SCO member states will be represented by the Prime Ministers of China, Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, as well as the First Vice President of Iran, apart from Jaishankar.
The Prime Minister of Mongolia (observer state) and the Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers and Foreign Ministers of Turkmenistan (special guests) will also participate in the meeting.
A 76-member Russian delegation, a 15-member delegation from China, a four-member official delegation from India, a four-member delegation from Kyrgyzstan and a two-member delegation from Iran have already reached Islamabad.
Seven representatives of Shanghai Cooperation Organization have also reached Pakistan.
A man takes a photo with a display of floral artwork ‘Mayur’ near the venue of the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Islamabad. , Photo Credit: AP
Meanwhile, police, paramilitary rangers and army troops have been deployed to maintain peace.
Authorities have banned all types of political gatherings and protests on the occasion, however, tension remains high due to Khan’s threat of protests by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), which has decided to hold a demonstration at D-Chowk. has announced. Leaders and others were not allowed to meet Khan.
Officials warned that the protesters would be dealt with harshly, but behind the scenes efforts were being made to persuade the party to end its protests.
Sources said the government may allow PTI chairman Gauhar Khan and a team of lawyers to meet Khan to press his demand for cancellation of the protest.
Chinese Prime Minister reached Pakistan
Chinese Prime Minister Li Kiang Arriving on Monday (October 4, 2024) on a four-day visit, during which he will attend the SCO summit and hold bilateral meetings with the leaders of Pakistan on a range of issues including the strategic China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.
This is the first visit by a Chinese Prime Minister to Pakistan in 11 years and comes after recent attacks on Chinese nationals working on infrastructure projects in Pakistan.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif welcomed Li along with cabinet ministers at the Noor Khan Airbase in Rawalpindi here.
Li and other foreign leaders will attend the 23rd meeting of the Council of Heads of Government (CHG) of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states in Islamabad on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Earlier, speculation about Lee’s involvement came in the wake of the killing of two Chinese workers in a suicide attack in Karachi and the ongoing agitation by the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party for the release of its jailed leader and former prime minister. Were. Imran Khan.
The state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) had reported ahead of Li’s visit that he would meet Pakistan’s civilian and military leadership and attend the SCO summit during his visit from October 14 to 17.
Sharif and Li will lead their respective delegations for comprehensive discussions on all aspects of Pakistan-China relations, including economic and trade ties and cooperation under the US$60 billion CPEC. Both sides will also discuss regional and global developments.
Prime Minister Lee will also meet President Asif Ali Zardari and hold meetings with parliamentary leaders.
Li is accompanied by ministers and senior officials including the ministries of foreign affairs and commerce, the National Development and Reform Commission and the China International Development Cooperation Agency.
Pakistan’s Foreign Office termed the Chinese leader’s visit as “an expression of the importance given by Pakistan and China to their ‘All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership'”. Earlier last week, Sharif had assured the Chinese of personally monitoring the investigation into the Karachi attack, responsibility for which has been claimed by the outlawed Baloch Liberation Army (BLA).
published – October 14, 2024 02:49 PM IST