ISSI Hosts Roundtable on "Astana Summit 2024: Solidifying SCO’s Partnerships

Islamabad– 22 June 2024 (Adnan Hameed) : The China Pakistan Study Centre (CPSC) at the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) hosted a roundtable discussion titled "Astana Summit 2024: Solidifying SCO’s Partnerships". The event was moderated by Dr. Talat Shabbir, Director CPSC. Key speakers included Ambassador Sohail Mahmood, Director General ISSI; Ambassador Khalid Mahmood, Chairman BoG, ISSI; HE Yerzhan Kistafin, Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan to Pakistan; Ambassador Babar Amin, Pakistan’s first National Coordinator of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO); Dr. Syed Hussain Shaheed Soherwordi, Professor, University of Peshawar; and Mr. Marghoob Saleem Butt, Pakistan’s National Coordinator for SCO, MOFA. Ambassador Sohail Mahmood, emphasized the significance of the upcoming Astana Summit within the SCO framework, highlighting its role as a pivotal trans-regional platform committed to stability, economic development, and cooperative multilateralism. He underscored the SCO’s expansive reach, covering 60% of Eurasia, encompassing 40% of the global population, and a significant portion of the world’s GDP. Ambassador Mahmood also noted the internal and external challenges facing the SCO and urged coordinated efforts amidst complex regional and global realities. Dr. Talat Shabbir, underscored the pivotal role of the SCO in fostering regional stability and prosperity through robust security mechanisms, enhanced economic collaboration, and cultural exchanges. He emphasized the significance of the Astana Summit 2024 in promoting peace and cooperation globally. Ambassador Yerzhan Kistafin, highlighted Kazakhstan’s contributions to the SCO’s development, emphasizing robust counterterrorism mechanisms and economic cooperation. He discussed bilateral efforts with Pakistan in geopolitical dimensions, digital development, economic collaboration, and connectivity. Ambassador Babar Amin, stressed the importance of cooperation within SCO member states, people-to-people connections, and media engagement. He highlighted SCO’s potential for enhancing development dynamics, suggesting it could surpass BRICS in certain aspects. Addressing challenges such as terrorism and security, he emphasized the need for collaborative efforts to foster connectivity and mitigate obstacles. Professor Dr. Syed Hussain Shaheed Soherwordi, highlighted the interconnectedness of security and economics in global affairs. He proposed key measures including diversifying regional ties, establishing mutual non-aggression agreements, and jointly combating terrorism to ensure regional stability and resilience against foreign intervention. Dr. Marghoob Saleem Butt emphasized the SCO’s contributions in various domains, including food security, climate change, and counter-terrorism. He outlined Pakistan’s priorities during its chairmanship, focusing on connectivity, poverty alleviation, and youth empowerment through digital initiatives. Dr. Butt also noted that Pakistan would be hosting the SCO Ministers of Trade/Commerce meeting in September 2024 and the Council of Heads of Government (CHG) in October 2024. Ambassador Khalid Mahmood, in his concluding remarks, underscored the SCO’s commitment to fostering security and economic cooperation among member states. He highlighted the upcoming Astana Summit and the expansion of SCO membership to 10 states with the inclusion of Belarus. The roundtable concluded with a comprehensive question and answer session. The event was attended by a large number of diplomats, practitioners, academics, think-tank experts, students, representatives of the business community, and the media.