ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is set to host the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) conference from October 15 till October 16, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) announced in a statement.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will preside over the conference, which will see participation from several key leaders belonging to the SCO member-states.
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The prime ministers of China, Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan are expected to attend the event. Meanwhile, the Vice President of Iran Mohammad Reza Aref and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan Raşit Meredow will attend as special guests.
The conference will focus on ongoing cooperation in different fields, including economy, trade, environment, and socio-cultural relations.
The performance of the organisation will be reviewed during the meeting, with important decisions expected to improve cooperation among the member-states and to approve the organisation’s budget.
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The SCO conference is extremely important for Pakistan as the country, having grappled with decades of violence and terrorist attacks, will be hosting an international event of such magnitude.
Successfully hosting the event will help demonstrate the country’s stability and even encourage more foreign investment, something the inflation-hit Pakistan desperately needs.