Title: PM Shehbaz to address SCO heads of state summit today
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Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday will address the heads of state of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) being held in the historic city of Samarkand.
The premier will highlight Pakistan’s stance and perspective on regional cooperation, particularly in view of emerging global challenges.
He is also scheduled to hold meetings with other world leaders on the sidelines of the SCO summit, including Chinese President Xi Jinping and President of Kazakhstan Kassym Jomart Tokayev.
Concluding his visit, the prime minister is expected to visit the mausoleum of Hazrat Imam Bokhari to pay his respects.
Premier meets Azerbaijan president
The prime minister met President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev today and discussed issues of bilateral interest.
The meeting, held on the sidelines of the SCO moot, focused on ways to strengthen the relationship between the two countries in diverse fields.
Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Finance Minister Miftah Ismail and other senior officials attended the meeting.
On Thursday, the premier met Russian President Vladimir Putin in a significant move that highlights that despite the change of government in Islamabad both sides are keen to deepen their bilateral cooperation.
Read Shehbaz to meet Xi in Samarkand this week
The meeting was significant given the fact that former prime minister Imran Khan accused the US-backed conspiracy for his ouster in April for pursuing close ties with Moscow.
Shehbaz’s meeting with Putin at the sidelines of the SCO summit indicates that Pakistan is not turning its back on Russia and continues to maintain a delicate balance in its ties with Washington and Moscow.
A Pakistani official, who was part of the PM’s delegation, told The Express Tribune from Samarkand that the meeting was “warm, cordial and constructive”.
The official, while requesting anonymity, said there were multiple opportunities for both sides to deepen their cooperation.
On the first day in Samarkand, Prime Minister Shehbaz held several bilateral meetings, including with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, another US rival.
The back-to-back meetings with Washington’s adversaries— Russian and Iranian leaders—indicate that Pakistan is trying to maintain a balanced foreign policy.
Shehbaz, meanwhile, met President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and President of Belarus Alexander Grigoryevich Lukashenko. He is also scheduled to meet Presidents of China and Turkey.
Published Date: 16-Sep-2022
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