On October 16, Chinese Premier Li Qiang attended the 23rd Meeting of the Council of Heads of Government (Prime Ministers) of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Islamabad. Alongside him were leaders from Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, India, as well as Iran’s Minister of Industry, Mines and Trade, the Prime Minister of Mongolia as an observer state, and the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of the host country, Turkmenistan. The meeting was presided over by Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shahbaz.
During the meeting, Li emphasized that the SCO serves as a vital platform for maintaining regional peace and stability while promoting the development and prosperity of its member states. He highlighted a significant consensus reached at the Astana summit in July, where Chinese President Xi Jinping and the leaders of other member countries committed to building a united, trustworthy, peaceful, and prosperous shared home within the SCO framework. “Creating such a shared home requires a more solid political foundation, reliable security guarantees, closer economic ties, deeper emotional connections, and coordinated multilateral cooperation,” Li stated.
Li also expressed China’s willingness to collaborate with all parties to translate the leaders’ consensus into effective action, aiming to turn the vision of a “shared home” into a tangible reality. He proposed four suggestions to deepen cooperation within the SCO:
1. **Strengthening Strategic Alignment**: Enhance strategic alignment around mission objectives by devising a development strategy for the next decade and creating a roadmap for cooperation across various fields, emphasizing dialogue to resolve differences and build trust.
2. **Expanding Practical Cooperation**: Focus on developmental needs by deepening collaboration in poverty alleviation, digital economy, and green development, while also stabilizing supply chains and actively working towards establishing a SCO Development Bank.
3. **Proactive Risk Management**: Boost collective action against major risks, combat threats from extremism, and expedite the establishment of comprehensive centers to address security challenges, including a drug control center.
4. **Fostering People-to-People Ties**: Respond to public expectations by enhancing person-to-person exchanges, leveraging the role of the SCO’s Neighborly Cooperation Committee, and developing initiatives such as a digital education alliance and cultural forums to promote grassroots friendship.
The attendees collectively reiterated their commitment to the “Shanghai Spirit,” strengthening mutual respect and trust while enhancing friendly cooperation among neighboring nations. They acknowledged that regional economic integration has improved, significantly contributing to regional peace, stability, and development. In light of the complex and turbulent global environment, the attendees emphasized the importance of implementing the outcomes of the Astana summit, maintaining close collaboration, and fostering deeper cooperation across various sectors, including trade, security, connectivity, energy, finance, green development, and poverty reduction, to uphold genuine multilateralism and ensure lasting peace and prosperity in the region and beyond.
At the conclusion of the meeting, Li and the other leaders signed and issued a joint communiqué, approving resolutions related to the SCO’s development.
