Pakistan Strengthens Ties with China and Russia at SCO Summit
Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar reaffirmed his country’s commitment to enhancing both bilateral and multilateral cooperation with China and Russia during the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit, state media reported. Arriving in Moscow on Monday, Dar attended the two-day SCO Council of Heads of Government (CHG) summit, where he met Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang and Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk.
In discussions with Overchuk, Dar reviewed the full spectrum of Pakistan-Russia relations, highlighting cooperation in political, economic, energy, connectivity, agriculture, industrial, educational, and people-to-people sectors through institutionalized mechanisms. Both sides emphasized their commitment to advancing collaboration not only bilaterally but also within broader multilateral platforms, including the United Nations and the SCO.
P.c. China Pakistan Economic Corridor
Overchuk praised Pakistan’s potential as a regional hub for transit and connectivity, recalling his recent visits to the country. Meanwhile, Dar and PM Li Qiang reaffirmed the enduring “all-weather” strategic partnership between Pakistan and China. They reviewed ongoing bilateral and multilateral initiatives, especially within the SCO framework, and lauded the Shanghai Spirit principles guiding regional cooperation.
Addressing the CHG summit, Dar urged SCO members to actively utilize existing financial mechanisms such as the SCO Interbank Consortium, which remain underused despite growing investment needs in regional trade corridors, digital connectivity, and infrastructure. He emphasized that sustainable economic growth, cultural exchange, and humanitarian cooperation are interconnected threads forming a stronger regional partnership.
Dar also spotlighted disaster preparedness as an emerging priority, highlighting Pakistan’s technology-driven early-response systems and offering to host simulation exercises with SCO partners. The deputy premier stressed the need for practical, cross-cutting initiatives that move beyond political declarations, strengthening collaboration across the region.