Pakistani head of state advocates for mutual cooperation in commerce and technology at the SCO summit, emphasizing multilateralism.

Pakistan's Prime Minister in China for SCO Summit and Boosting Trade Ties

Pakistan's Prime Minister, Shahbaz Sharif, is currently in China, attending the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Tianjin from August 31 to September 1. Several world leaders, including Russia's Vladimir Putin and India's Narendra Modi, are in attendance.

The SCO, which comprises China, India, Russia, Pakistan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Belarus, with 16 more countries as observers or "dialogue partners," provides a platform for regional leaders to chart a roadmap for the next decade of holistic development for SCO members.

During the summit, Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari called for promoting multilateralism. He emphasized the importance of strengthening global institutions and the obligation of the SCO to do so. According to Zardari, the SCO summit is intended to promote and practice true multilateralism covering not just peace and security but economic, financial, commercial, and technological ties among nations.

China's trade with SCO nations reached half a trillion dollars in 2024. China has invested tens of billions of dollars into Pakistan over the past decade for transport, energy, and infrastructure projects as part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). The Pakistani government has also invested significantly in infrastructure projects and economic collaboration to strengthen bilateral relations with China, primarily through the CPEC.

Sharif will also chair the second Pakistan-China B2B Investment Conference in Beijing on September 4 to boost trade and investment ties. The fields of potential cooperation between Pakistan and China include defense, cybersecurity, new technologies, and energy.

Zardari stated that the SCO's performance over the past decade in countering terrorism and curbing transnational crimes, especially drug trafficking, has been impressive. He also emphasized the importance of improving economic, technological, and commercial cooperation among member states to contain and control volatility in international markets and ensure stability.

Pakistan is proud of China's rise and leadership at the global and regional stage. Beijing and Islamabad support each other on core issues and common principles, including respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity, and political independence. Zardari's visit to China in February reinforced his conviction that Pakistan and China will play an even bigger role in strengthening bilateral ties in various fields.

In his column published in the English-language Chinese newspaper, 'China Daily,' Zardari presented the SCO as a counterweight to Western-led power blocs, with China pushing for greater collaboration between its member states. The SCO summit in Tianjin is set to further strengthen these collaborations and pave the way for a more peaceful, prosperous, and interconnected region.