Indina FM Jaishankar latest to arrive as SCO summit opens in Islamabad today

ISLAMABAD: Several delegates from member states including Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar landed in Islamabad ahead of the 23rd meeting of the Council of the Heads of Government (CHG) of the member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), which kicks off today (Tuesday).

As the two-day summit starts today, delegates from members and other invited states already arriving in the federal capital. Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang, along with a high-level delegation, arrived in Islamabad earlier on Monday.

To be held at the Jinnah Convention Center, the annual meeting of the SCO CHG – the second highest forum within the SCO – will be chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif as the current chair of the Council.

Indian Minister of External Affairs S. Jaishankar touched down at the Nur Khan Air Base in Islamabad.

Earlier today, Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan Akylbek Zhaparov was welcomed by the Petroleum Miniter Musadik Malik upon his arrival in Islamabad for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization meeting.

Prime Minister of Belarus Roman Alexandrovich Golovchenko also arrived at Islamabad International Airport and was welcomed by the federal minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazeer Tarar.

Followed by the Belarusian premier, Tajik PM Kokhir Rasulzoda also landed at the same airport, where Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan greeted him.

Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan Rashid Meredov, who is a special guest at the SCO, was received by Education Minister Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui at the Islamabad airport.

Islamabad at standstill ahead of moot

The city is under tight security with around 10,000 security personnel deployed including the army and paramilitary forces on major roads, meeting venue, airport, Red Zone, and other sensitive areas.

Life in the federal capital comes paralyzed as authorities have blocked all major roads in the city and announced a three-day public holiday in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, with schools and businesses shut.

Capital Development Authority (CDA) has decorated and beautifully illuminated the major roads and intersections joining the airport to the venue and installed LED display screens. Landmarks across the city have been adorned with colorful lights and Pakistani and participating states’ flags.

Federal Ministry for Information & Broadcasting has set up a Media Facilitation Centre at the Pakistan-China Friendship Center near the venue to facilitate journalists from SCO member states as well as local journalists.

Meeting Schedule

On Tuesday (today) evening, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will host the welcome dinner for the dignitaries participating in the moot at the Prime Minister’s Office. The delegations will continue arriving today.

The premier will also hold important bilateral meetings with visiting heads of delegations on the sidelines of the summit today.

On Wednesday the regional leaders would gather at the Jinnah Convention Centre to discuss ongoing cooperation in the fields of economy, trade, environment, and socio-cultural linkages and review the performance of the Organization, a Foreign Office spokesperson said in a press statement on Saturday.

The leaders will also adopt important organizational decisions to enhance cooperation among SCO member States further and approve the budget of the Organization.

Before the formal session begins, Prime Minister Shehbaz will welcome the leaders at the venue, followed by a group photo.

The summit proceedings will start with PM Shehbaz’s opening remarks followed by the statements from the participating leaders. The prime minister will deliver his concluding remarks after the signing of different documents by the participating leaders.

PM Shehbaz will remain the chair of the SCO Council of Chief Executives/Heads of Government today for one year, as India will relinquish it after 17 months.

Who will participate?

The leaders from the SCO member states attending the summit include China’s Premier of the State Council Li Qiang, Prime Minister of Belarus Roman Golovchenko, Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Olzhas Bektenov, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, Tajik Prime Minister Kohir Rasulzoda, Uzbek Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov,

Kyrgyzstan’s Chairman of Ministers’ Cabinet Zhaparov Akylbek, Iran’s First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref, and Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar will also attend the moot as the head of the member states.

Besides, Mongolia is participating in the summit as an Observer State represented by Prime Minister Oyun-Erdene Luvsannamsrai, and Turkmenistan as a Special Guest represented by Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers Rashid Meredov.

Among other dignitaries attending the moot include SCO Secretary-General Zhang Ming, Director of Executive Committee SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) Ruslan Mirzayev, Chairman of the Board of SCO Business Council Atif Ikram Shaikh and Chairman of the Council of SCO Interbank Union Marat Yelibayev.