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Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar used the 24th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of Government (CHG) meeting in Moscow to call for stronger regional connectivity, new SCO-level financial instruments and deeper engagement with key partners, notably Russia and China.<\/p>\n
He also held a number of high-level bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the summit.<\/p>\n
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), Dar headed Pakistan\u2019s delegation to the CHG, held from November 17 to 18, and joined other heads of government in a joint call on Russian President Vladimir Putin, who welcomed the delegations and stressed the need to strengthen regional economic cooperation under the SCO as a platform for connectivity, stability and mutually beneficial development.<\/p>\n
In his statement at the CHG Narrow Format (SCO members only) session, Dar reaffirmed Pakistan\u2019s commitment to the \u201cShanghai Spirit\u201d and set out priorities that included enhanced cooperation in connectivity, energy, transport linkages, logistics and infrastructure development.<\/p>\n
He encouraged member states to promote the use of national currencies for mutual settlements and called for the establishment of an SCO Development Bank, an SCO Development Fund and an Investment Fund. <\/p>\n
On regional politics, he underscored the need for a comprehensive dialogue to address the full spectrum of regional issues, reiterating that stability in Afghanistan remains imperative for peace and stability across the region.<\/p>\n
Addressing the CHG Expanded Format, the deputy premier reaffirmed Pakistan\u2019s commitment to building economic bridges through tangible actions, emphasising greater economic integration through trade, investment and digital advancement. <\/p>\n
In the humanitarian domain, he offered to share Pakistan\u2019s experience in disaster preparedness, called for the modernisation of the SCO and the expansion of its global outreach, including by streamlining the use of English in its work. <\/p>\n
He proposed deeper engagement with Observer and Partner countries through project-based initiatives aimed at advancing shared goals, recommended leveraging the potential of the SCO Interbank Consortium to finance development projects in SCO countries, and highlighted the importance of building human capital and empowering youth by strengthening academic linkages and transforming the SCO University Network into a consortium for applied knowledge.<\/p>\n
A Foreign Office (FO) statement on the Expanded Format said leaders deliberated on the development of trade, economic, cultural and humanitarian cooperation within the SCO, including the involvement of Observer States and Partners, in the context of modernising the organisation\u2019s activities and in light of the outcomes of the SCO Summit in Tianjin. <\/p>\n
The Moscow CHG considered and approved around a dozen decisions, documents and statements, and adopted a joint communique outlining the strategic direction for the SCO\u2019s future work in economic cooperation. The CHG is described as the organisation\u2019s second-highest forum, concentrating on cooperation among member states in the socio-economic, trade and financial sectors; last year it was chaired by Pakistan and hosted in Islamabad in October 2024.<\/p>\n
On Wednesday, Dar met Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on the sidelines of the CHG.<\/span><\/p>\n The FO said both sides reviewed the entire spectrum of bilateral relations and expressed deep satisfaction at what they described as the current positive trajectory of ties. <\/p>\n Dar congratulated his Russian counterpart on the successful holding of the SCO-CHG meeting and noted the vital role of the leaderships of both countries, as well as bilateral institutional mechanisms, in further strengthening cooperation. <\/p>\n The two foreign ministers also exchanged views on wide-ranging regional and international issues and, taking into account what they termed excellent coordination at multilateral fora, including the United Nations (UN) and the SCO, pledged to deepen this coordination in the interest of both countries.<\/p>\n On Tuesday, Dar held a bilateral meeting with Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk after the conclusion of the CHG meetings. <\/p>\n The FO said the two leaders conducted a substantive review of the full spectrum of Pakistan\u2013Russia relations, focusing on strengthening cooperation across all areas of mutual interest, including political, trade, energy, connectivity, agriculture, industry, education, science and technology, information technology, people-to-people linkages and tourism, through institutionalised mechanisms. <\/p>\n Overchuk recalled his visit to Islamabad in September 2024 and his meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on the margins of the SCO-CHG in Islamabad in October 2024, acknowledged Pakistan\u2019s potential to emerge as a regional hub for transit trade and connectivity, and appreciated Pakistan\u2019s establishment of relations with Armenia, which he observed would contribute to strengthening Pakistan\u2019s ties with the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). <\/p>\n Both sides also exchanged views on key regional and global developments and reaffirmed their resolve to deepen cooperation at bilateral and multilateral fora, including the United Nations and the SCO.<\/p>\n Earlier on Wednesday, Dar met Chinese Premier Li Qiang on the sidelines of the SCO CHG meeting. <\/p>\n According to the FO, the two leaders reaffirmed the \u201call-weather\u201d Pakistan\u2013China strategic partnership, reviewed bilateral and multilateral cooperation, particularly within the SCO, and praised the Shanghai Spirit principles guiding regional collaboration. <\/p>\n They also exchanged views on global issues and agreed to maintain real-time engagement going forward.<\/p>\n Also during his stay in Moscow, Dar held a series of meetings with other leaders on the margins of the CHG on Wednesday.<\/span><\/p>\n He had an informal discussion with Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani to exchange views on bilateral relations and priorities for regional cooperation.<\/p>\n In separate meetings, the deputy premier met Adylbek Kasymaliev, Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers and Head of the Presidential Administration of the Kyrgyz Republic, congratulating him on assuming the chair of the SCO Heads of State and exchanging views on SCO initiatives and Kyrgyzstan\u2019s assumption of the rotating presidency. <\/p>\n He met Uzbek Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov, appreciating what the FO described as the positive momentum in Pakistan\u2013Uzbekistan relations and underscoring the importance of high-level interactions and cooperation at multilateral fora, including the SCO. <\/p>\n Dar also met Tajik Prime Minister Kokhir Rasulzoda, congratulating him on assuming the chair of the next Council of Heads of Government meeting.<\/p>\n He reaffirmed Pakistan\u2019s resolve to further strengthen Pakistan\u2013Tajik ties across diverse areas, as well as deepen cooperation at multilateral platforms.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\nDar reaffirms ‘all-weather’ partnership with China<\/h3>\n
At the margins of the SCO Heads of Government meetings, on Wednesday, Dar engaged with Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin and Chinese Premier Li Qiang to discuss enhancing collaboration among SCO member states.<\/span><\/h3>\n
Dar steps up diplomacy with regional leaders<\/h3>\n