Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Advocates for Multilateralism at SCO Plus Summit in Astana

Astana: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif represented Pakistan at the SCO Plus Summit held on July 4, 2024, in Astana, Kazakhstan. The summit, themed “Strengthening multilateral dialogue – striving for sustainable peace and development,” saw the Prime Minister emphasize the critical importance of multilateral cooperation and adherence to international law.

According to Ministry of Foreign Affairs, during his address at the summit, Prime Minister Sharif strongly condemned unilateral coercive measures and ideologies that undermine multilateralism, such as racism, xenophobia, and Islamophobia. He highlighted the necessity of avoiding great power rivalries, respecting the UN Charter, and resolving disputes through peaceful means to promote and preserve global peace.

The SCO Plus Summit was attended by ten SCO member states—Belarus, China, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan—and guest countries including Azerbaijan, Mongolia, Qatar, Turkiye, and Turkmenistan. Additionally, international organizations such as the UN, CICA, CIS, CSTO, EEC, and OIC participated, reflecting the summit’s broad geopolitical influence and scope.

This participation underscores Pakistan’s commitment to engaging in significant diplomatic and multilateral forums, aiming to foster sustainable peace and development through strengthened international cooperation.