A group photo featuring Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif alongside the heads of delegations attending the 23rd Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Heads of Government Meeting in Islamabad on October 16, 2024. Image: Prime Minister office Islamabad, Pakistan
(The Post News)- Members of BRICS, China, Russia, and India attended the 23rd summit of the Council of Heads of Government of member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) held in Islamabad on October 15-16, 2024. The summit, chaired by Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, focused on enhancing regional security, economic cooperation, and combating terrorism efforts.
According to the Global Times, the SCO serves as a crucial platform for maintaining regional peace and stability for all countries. The convergence of the SCO and BRICS, with Russia, India, and China holding membership positions in both organisations, highlights their shared interest in challenging the global governance structure and promoting a multipolar world order.
The summit took place against the backdrop of South Asia’s complicated geopolitical environment, significantly impacted by China-India relations and historical conflicts between India and Pakistan over Kashmir. Despite tensions, SCO member states reaffirmed their commitment to regional peace, political stability, and socio-economic collaboration.
Leaders addressed concerns about terrorism, cyber and biosecurity threats, and security cooperation. Economic negotiations aimed to increase trade, lower obstacles, and create the SCO Development Bank and Investment Fund for long-term growth and infrastructure projects.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang highlighted urgent problems threatening regional peace and stability, including bullying, power politics, and geopolitical conflicts. The summit’s focus on regional security was timely, considering evolving threats of terrorism and extremism.
Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar addressed India’s concerns regarding cross-border terrorism and called for collective action to combat extremism and promote regional stability. Member states resolved to bolster the Regional Anti-Terrorism Structure (RATS), aiming to isolate nations providing safe havens to terrorist entities.
The summit concluded with the signing of eight significant accords, strengthening multilateral trade, economic cooperation, and e-commerce. These agreements featured the “New Economic Dialogue” development idea, which aims to strengthen economic relations between SCO countries.
The summit’s outcomes set the stage for a new chapter in regional geopolitics, where dialogue and collaboration pave the way for resolving long-standing disputes and fostering Eurasia. As SCO members endorsed China’s leadership for the 2024-2025 term and agreed to hold the next summit in Russia, the bloc reaffirmed its commitment to shaping a collective future based on mutual respect, trust, and international law principles.
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