Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit 2024
Overview Of SCO:
Shanghai cooperation organization is a permanent intergovernmental International Organization with main goals of mutual interest, mutual trust, good neighborly relations among the members state, and the effective cooperation in politics, economy, trade, science and technology, culture and education. As it sounds it’s one of the major political events happens in the world especially in the Asian Region.
The members of Shanghai cooperation are categorized in three categories including:
- Permanent Member: There are nine permanent members of the SCO including China, Russia, India, Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Iran.
- Observer States: There are three states that includes in observer states that is Afghanistan, Belarus and Mongolia.
- Dialogue Partners: Following are the dialogue partners in the SCO summit: Azerbaijan, Armenia, Bahrain, Cambodia, Egypt, Kuwait, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Turkiye, UAE.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is pivotal in fostering regional stability, security, and cooperation among its member nations. Established in Tashkent in 2004, the SCO’s Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) has been instrumental in combating terrorism, separatism, and extremism. Acting as the primary coordination hub for these efforts, RATS conducts joint exercises, shares vital intelligence, and formulates strategies to address security challenges, including drug trafficking. In 2023, its mandate expanded to include cybersecurity and tackling online threats.
The SCO collaborates closely with international organizations like the United Nations, Interpol, and the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO). These alliances strengthen its capacity to address regional security challenges, especially in Central Asia, the organization’s focal area. The SCO’s initiatives have been crucial in maintaining stability in this region, despite existing security threats.
Afghanistan is central to the SCO’s security concerns due to its influence on regional stability. The SCO supports a diplomatic solution and advocates for the formation of an inclusive government in Afghanistan. The SCO-Afghanistan Contact Group is vital in promoting dialogue and enhancing Afghanistan’s counter-terrorism efforts. Infrastructure projects such as the trans-Afghan corridor and the Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan Railway demonstrate the SCO’s commitment to socioeconomic progress and regional connectivity.
With abundant resources and a rapidly advancing technological base, the SCO is well-positioned to spearhead technological development in the developing world. As it continues to grow and attract new members, the organization promotes development and embodies the “Shanghai Spirit” of mutual trust, cooperation, and shared prosperity.
SCO summit 2024:
Pakistan hosted the 23rd meeting of the council of Heads of the states (CHS) of members states of SCO from October 14 to October 15, 2024.
Following are the States representative that attended the Shanghai cooperation organization summit 2024:
- Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif
- Prime Minister of the Republic of Belarus R.A. Golovchenko
- Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of India S. Jaishankar
- Minister of Industry, Mine and Trade of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Sayed Mohammad Atabak
- Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan O.A.Bektenov
- Premier of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China Li Qiang
- Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic A.U.Zhaparo
- Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation M.V. Mishustin
- Prime Minister of the Republic of Tajikistan Kokhir Rasulzoda
- Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan A.N. Aripov.
Other SCO guests includes:
- Secretary-General Zhang Ming
- Director of the Executive Committee of the SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure R.E. Mirzaev
- Chairman of the National Part of the SCO Business Council from the Islamic Republic of Pakistan Sheikh Atif Ikram
- Chairman of the SCO Interbank Association Council M.T. Elibaev.
- Prime Minister of Mongolia L. Oyun-Erdene (SCO Observer State)
- Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan R. Meredov
- Heads of the permanent bodies of the CIS and CICA.
Objectives And Themes Of The SCO Summit 2024
Following are the main objectives and themes of SCO summit 2024:
Combating Terrorism: The summit aims to address cross-border terrorism and strengthen security cooperation among member states. This includes efforts to isolate countries that support terrorism and enhance the Regional Anti-Terrorism Structure (RATS).
Economic Cooperation: Economic partnerships, such as trade and investment, will be a major focus. The “Make in India” initiative will be highlighted as a way to boost global economic growth, especially through partnerships with countries in the Global South.
Climate Change and Environmental Protection: The summit will address climate change by promoting sustainable practices and building climate-resilient infrastructure. These efforts align with the SCO’s broader goals of environmental protection and sustainable development.
Strengthening Multilateral Dialogue: The theme of the summit, “Strengthening Multilateral Dialogue—Striving Towards Sustainable Peace and Prosperity,” emphasizes the SCO’s commitment to increasing cooperation among member states during a time of global challenges.
Regional Stability and Security: The summit will focus on enhancing regional stability, resolving ongoing conflicts, and promoting a multipolar world order. It will also review the organization’s achievements over the past twenty years and plan future cooperation strategies.
Key Development During The Summit:
Meeting Between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and SCO Secretary-General Zhang Ming:
In a significant meeting held at the Prime Minister’s House in Islamabad, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif convened with Zhang Ming, Secretary-General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). The discussion centered on Pakistan’s leadership role within the organization and underscored the country’s commitment to advancing the SCO’s developmental priorities. Zhang Ming’s visit coincided with the SCO Council of Heads of Government (CHG) meeting, during which he commended Pakistan’s efforts and contributions across various sectors of the SCO.
Indian Foreign Minister Thanked Pakistan:
Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar expressed gratitude to the Pakistani government for their “splendid hospitality” following his departure from the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit. He thanked Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar for their graciousness and acknowledged the warm reception from the Pakistani people.
Jaishankar highlighted the significance of his discussions with Dar and attended a luncheon hosted by Sharif, where they engaged in informal conversations. He congratulated Pakistan on its chairmanship of the SCO Heads of Council and assured India’s “full cooperation” during this period.
In his summit address, he addressed global challenges, including ongoing conflicts and the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on developing nations. Jaishankar emphasized the importance of cooperation among SCO member states and the need to address terrorism, separatism, and extremism for regional stability. He called for honest dialogue and trust to enhance regional unity.
The Afghan Imperative at the SCO Summit
The SCO summit emphasized the vital role of the Taliban regime in Afghanistan in promoting regional stability. A significant topic of discussion was the necessity of preventing Afghan territory from being used as a base for terrorist activities, which is crucial for maintaining peace and security in the region.
With Pakistan’s strong connections to Afghanistan, it emerged as a key player in urging the Taliban to fulfill its counterterrorism commitments. The SCO’s focus on regional cooperation offered the Taliban an opportunity to engage with neighboring countries and leverage various economic initiatives.
However, for the Taliban to gain the confidence and support of the international community, it must demonstrate a sincere commitment to combating terrorism and respecting human rights. This imperative was a central theme of the summit, highlighting the shared responsibility of SCO member states to foster a stable and secure regional environment.
Eight Agreements Signed During SCO:
The summit concluded with the adoption of eight important documents, focusing on the organization’s budget, the functioning of the SCO secretariat, and regional counterterrorism strategies. These agreements demonstrated the SCO’s continued dedication to strengthening regional cooperation in critical areas such as security, trade, and economic growth. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chaired the proceedings, reviewing the progress on decisions from the previous summit in Astana and reaffirming the SCO’s resolve to address regional conflicts through diplomatic dialogue and peaceful negotiation.
Bilateral Meetings at the SCO Summit: Advancing Regional Cooperation
On the sidelines of the SCO Summit, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held several important bilateral meetings, reinforcing Pakistan’s commitment to regional collaboration and strengthening its relationships with key partners. In a meeting with Tajikistan’s Prime Minister Qohir Rasulzoda, PM Shehbaz expressed appreciation for Tajikistan’s active role in the SCO CHG meeting and emphasized the importance of enhancing cooperation in trade, investment, energy, and regional connectivity. Prime Minister Rasulzoda extended the best wishes of President Emomali Rahmon and affirmed Tajikistan’s dedication to deepening cooperation, including enhancing bilateral trade through sugar exports.
Prime Minister Shehbaz also met with Belarusian Prime Minister Roman Golovchenko, congratulating Belarus on its full membership in the SCO. The discussion focused on maximizing bilateral cooperation, particularly in trade, agricultural machinery, and joint production initiatives. PM Shehbaz reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to collaborating closely with Belarus under the framework of the “Shanghai Spirit.”
Furthermore, PM Shehbaz engaged in talks with Rashid Meredov, Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan. The prime Minister welcomed Turkmenistan’s participation as a ‘Special Guest’ and highlighted the need for high-level exchanges to strengthen their historic ties. Meredov extended congratulations on the successful organization of the SCO CHG meeting and reiterated Turkmenistan’s commitment to fostering closer relations with Pakistan.
During his meeting with Akylbek Japarov, Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic, PM Shehbaz expressed satisfaction with the positive trajectory of Pakistan-Kyrgyz relations. Japarov congratulated Pakistan on the successful summit and acknowledged the country’s efforts as the SCO Chair in hosting the event.
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif held a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Olzhas Bektenov, on the sidelines of the SCO Council of Heads of Government Meeting.
Welcoming Kazakhstan’s participation in the SCO meeting, the Prime Minister reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to work with all SCO countries in advancing SCO’s principles and purposes. In this regard, the Prime Minister recalled his visit to Astana in July this year for the SCO Council of Heads of State Meeting and appreciated Kazakhstan’s contributions to strengthening cooperation among SCO countries.
Noting the warm and excellent bilateral relations between the two countries, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif emphasized the need to enhance trade and investment, while also focusing on regional connectivity and security.
To achieve this shared objective, the Prime Minister emphasized the need to maintain regular and high-level contacts, including through institutional mechanisms of bilateral engagement.
Olzhas Bektenov congratulated Shehbaz Sharif on the successful holding of the SCO Summit in Pakistan.
He reiterated Kazakhstan’s firm resolve to work closely with Pakistan, both as part of SCO and bilaterally, to enhance regional connectivity, trade and development. He further said that Kazakhstan sees Pakistan as a leading trade partner in South Asia.
Both the sides agreed to jointly work to realize the true trade potential between the two countries.
Uzbekistan’s Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov arrived in Islamabad on Wednesday to attend the 23rd meeting of the Council of Heads of Government (CHG) of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). The high-level meeting, which runs for two days, will be chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Federal Minister for Energy, Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari, extended a warm welcome to the Uzbek Prime Minister at Nur Khan Airbase. In a display of traditional hospitality, children dressed in cultural attire presented bouquets to the visiting dignitaries. A red carpet was rolled out to greet the guests, highlighting the importance of the event and the strong bilateral ties between Pakistan and Uzbekistan.
The SCO CHG meeting, the second-highest forum within the Organization, will focus on enhancing cooperation across multiple sectors among member states. Pakistan assumed the rotating chairmanship of the CHG for 2023-24 during the previous meeting held in Bishkek on October 26, 2023, where then interim Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani represented the country.
The event is seen as a key opportunity to strengthen regional cooperation and foster deeper economic and diplomatic ties within the SCO framework.
Impact On Pakistan:
The SCO Summit 2024 had a significant impact on Pakistan, enhancing its role as an active participant in the organization. Economically, the summit led to promising developments, as Pakistan strengthened trade and investment ties within the SCO, particularly with China through the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). The agreements made at the summit opened pathways for new infrastructure investments and energy collaborations, which are expected to boost Pakistan’s economic growth and address its energy needs. Enhanced cooperation with Central Asian states, especially energy-rich countries like Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, also helped Pakistan mitigate its energy crisis and improve its trade balance.
From a security perspective, the summit provided a platform for Pakistan to address critical issues like the situation in Afghanistan. The collaborative strategies developed during the summit, including the use of the SCO’s Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS), played a role in improving border security and countering extremism through intelligence-sharing and joint measures.
Politically, Pakistan utilized the summit to strengthen diplomatic ties with major powers such as China and Russia while maintaining its complex relationship with India. The summit bolstered Pakistan’s international standing and provided new opportunities for diplomatic outreach and economic cooperation, reinforcing its position in an increasingly multipolar world.
Overall, the SCO Summit 2024 proved to be a critical forum for Pakistan, contributing to its economic, security, and diplomatic advancements while promoting broader regional stability.
This Article is written by Ms. Mouzma Batool, who is currently studying International Relations at the National University of Modern Languages, Islamabad. She is Director Social Media at the Youth Diplomacy Forum.
