The 23rd Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit, held on October 16, 2024, in Islamabad, Pakistan, showcased the growing importance of regional collaboration in addressing common challenges such as connectivity, security, and climate change. The summit, chaired by Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, brought together leaders from member states including China, India, Russia, and Central Asian nations to discuss strategies for deepening cooperation and fostering socio-economic development.
One of the central themes of the summit was enhancing connectivity between SCO member states. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif emphasized the need to invest in regional infrastructure projects, particularly road, rail, and digital networks, to advance the shared vision of an economically integrated region. He highlighted the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which is in its second phase, and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) as key frameworks that could significantly boost connectivity and trade in the region. The prime minister urged the SCO nations to view these projects beyond political lenses, focusing instead on their potential for collective economic growth.
In addition, the development of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) was stressed as a critical initiative to improve trade routes across Eurasia. Shehbaz Sharif’s call for a strategy to develop energy cooperation by 2030 further underscored the importance of regional infrastructure to achieving sustainable development and economic integration.
At the summit, Prime Minister Shehbaz also touched on critical global issues such as poverty and climate change. He described poverty as a “moral imperative” requiring collective action, noting that millions of people in the SCO region live in poverty. Pakistan, as the chair of the SCO’s special working group on poverty, has been active in promoting seminars and webinars aimed at poverty alleviation. The prime minister reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to continue these efforts to address the root causes of poverty and uplift living standards.
On climate change, Shehbaz Sharif reminded the audience of the devastating floods Pakistan faced in 2022, which caused billions of dollars in losses. He stressed the need for coordinated regional efforts to enhance disaster preparedness and mitigate the impacts of climate change. Pakistan proposed organizing simulation exercises with SCO members to improve disaster management capabilities, further demonstrating the country’s leadership in tackling this existential crisis.
Afghanistan’s stability emerged as a key point of discussion during the summit, given its significance for regional peace and security. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reiterated that a stable Afghanistan is “essential” for realizing the full potential of trade and transit opportunities for all SCO members. He called on the international community to provide urgent humanitarian aid to Afghanistan and encouraged the Afghan interim government to embrace political inclusivity. This, he stressed, would help prevent Afghanistan from becoming a haven for terrorism, a concern that has long been shared by neighboring countries like Pakistan.
The SCO summit also provided a platform for leaders to address pressing international crises, including the ongoing conflict in Gaza. In his closing remarks, Prime Minister Shehbaz highlighted the “genocide” taking place in Gaza, urging the international community to take immediate steps toward an unconditional ceasefire. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for the establishment of a Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders with East Jerusalem (Al-Quds) as its capital. This call for justice and peace resonated with Pakistan’s longstanding position on the Palestinian issue, aligning with the broader SCO ethos of multilateralism and conflict resolution.
India’s External Affairs Minister, Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, brought up the issue of cross-border terrorism during the summit, reiterating India’s stance that such activities hinder regional cooperation. He referenced the SCO’s objective to combat the “three evils” of terrorism, extremism, and separatism, emphasizing that these threats pose significant challenges to enhancing trade, energy flows, and people-to-people exchanges in the region. Jaishankar stressed the need for mutual respect, sovereign equality, and the recognition of territorial integrity in SCO collaborations, furthering India’s call for a stable and secure neighborhood.
The summit concluded with a consensus among SCO members to deepen cooperation in various sectors, including security, trade, investment, and cultural exchanges. China’s role as the next rotating president of the SCO was widely acknowledged, with member states expressing their support for Beijing’s leadership in promoting regional development and stability.
In summary, the 23rd SCO summit underscored the collective resolve of member states to tackle shared challenges through enhanced connectivity, poverty alleviation, climate resilience, and regional security. With Pakistan at the helm, the summit set the stage for future collaboration that promises to benefit not only the SCO region but the broader international community as well.