On October 16, local time in Islamabad, Chinese Premier Li Qiang participated in the twenty-third meeting of the Council of Heads of Government (Prime Ministers) of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). Attendees included the Prime Ministers of Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, as well as India’s External Affairs Minister, Iran’s Minister of Industry, Mine and Trade, the Prime Minister of Mongolia, and the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Turkmenistan. The meeting was hosted by Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif.
In his address, Premier Li emphasized that the SCO serves as a significant platform for maintaining regional peace and stability, and for promoting development and prosperity among its member states. During the Astana Summit in July of this year, President Xi Jinpeng and the leaders of the member countries reached an important consensus on building a united, trustful, peaceful, prosperous, friendly, just, and equitable SCO community. Li stated that this vision requires a stronger political foundation, more reliable security guarantees, tighter economic ties, deeper emotional connections, and more coordinated multilateral cooperation.
Li expressed China’s willingness to work with all parties to translate the leaders’ consensus into effective actions, turning the vision of the “five common homes” into reality. He proposed four recommendations for deepening cooperation within the SCO: First, strengthen strategic alignment around mission objectives by developing a ten-year strategy for the SCO and outlining a cooperation roadmap. Second, expand pragmatic cooperation by addressing development needs, focusing on poverty alleviation, digital economy, and green development, while maintaining stable industrial and supply chains and actively working towards the establishment of a SCO Development Bank. Third, focus on major risks and enhance cooperative action to combat the “three evil forces,” while quickly establishing comprehensive centers to handle security threats and drug control. Fourth, respond to public expectations by promoting people-to-people exchanges, enhancing the role of the SCO Neighborhood Cooperation Committee, building a digital education alliance, and organizing civil friendship forums.
Participants highlighted that member states uphold the “Shanghai Spirit,” reinforcing mutual respect and trust, and enhance friendly cooperation, which has steadily improved regional economic integration and significantly contributed to regional peace, stability, and development. In light of the complex and turbulent international environment, they stressed the importance of implementing the outcomes of the Astana Summit, fostering unity and collaboration, linking the Belt and Road Initiative with the Eurasian Economic Union, deepening cooperation across various sectors including trade, security, connectivity, energy, finance, green development, and poverty reduction, strengthening cultural ties, practicing genuine multilateralism, and jointly upholding international fairness and justice to promote lasting peace and shared prosperity in the region and the world.
Premier Li Qiang, together with the leaders of member states, signed and issued a joint communiqué, approving related resolutions for the SCO’s development.
