Excellency Mikhail Mishustin, Prime Minister of the Russian Federation and Chairman of the SCO Council of Heads of Government,

Honorable Heads of Delegations of SCO Member States,

Secretary General SCO,

Director, SCO RATS Executive Committee,

Excellencies,

Ladies and gentlemen,

Very Good Morning/DOBRE UTRA!

It is a great pleasure to be in the beautiful city of Moscow and to be hosted by the Honorable Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, Excellency Mishustin. I thank you, Excellency, for your warm, generous, and traditional Russian hospitality extended to me and my delegation, as well as for the excellent arrangements for SCO meeting.

Excellencies,

Pakistan is committed to the ‘Shanghai Spirit’ and its noble principles, which anchor our collective efforts in the face of great transformation in the geopolitical and geoeconomic arenas.

Excellencies,

Last year in the Islamabad CHG meeting, Prime Minister of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif had said that “economic collaboration is at the heart of SCO engagement.” Pakistan’s Chairmanship of CHG prioritized economic cooperation in the areas of connectivity, transport links, logistics, and infrastructure development. We believe that investment in regional infrastructure, notably in the sectors of transport and energy, is imperative for advancing economic integration.

Excellencies,

Pakistan’s location at the crossroads of South Asia, Central Asia, and the Middle East makes it an ideal trade conduit for the Eurasian region.

The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is a force multiplier for regional connectivity, not only by connecting Pakistan to China but also by offering all SCO countries a chance to invest in regional economic integration.

Excellencies,

Two months ago in Tianjin, under the dynamic chairmanship of Chinese leadership, we further consolidated our cooperation in multiple fields of science, technology, innovation, AI, commerce, tourism, culture and security.

We welcome President Xi’s Global Governance Initiative (GGI) and appreciate the launch of six cooperation platforms in energy, green industry, digital economy, scientific and technological innovation, high education, and vocational and technical education. Like many other, these were stellar initiatives of President Xi under China’s Chairmanship. 

Excellencies,

The SCO Business Council and SCO Interbank Association can play a vital role in fostering economic and commercial cooperation and investment among SCO Member States.

We also need to take concrete steps toward promoting the use of national currencies for mutual settlement, and toward establishing the SCO Development Bank, SCO Development Fund, and Investment Fund. Such tools and measures will help the SCO region offset international financial shocks and advance development initiatives.

Excellencies,

Regardless of different stages of economic development, all SCO Member States still face challenges related to poverty and food security. We can overcome these challenges through common efforts and by learning from each other’s experiences.

Recently, Pakistan successfully hosted the second session of the “SCO Special Working Group on Poverty Alleviation” as its permanent chairman. It focused on “Building Climate-Resilient Social Protection Systems: Protecting Vulnerable Groups from Climate Shocks in the SCO Region.”

Excellencies,

Sustainable economic development cannot be guaranteed without durable peace and security in the region. Ensuring stability in Afghanistan is imperative for safeguarding peace and stability in our region. Pakistan continues to aspire toward a peaceful, stable, regionally integrated, and prosperous Afghanistan, which is at peace with itself and its neighbors.

We reaffirm our unwavering belief in dialogue, diplomacy, and international law. We believe that disputes and differences should be resolved amicably through dialogue, diplomacy, and honoring mutually agreed international treaties, rather than through conflict, coercion, or unilateral actions. Against this backdrop, the initiation of a comprehensive and structured dialogue can meaningfully address the full spectrum of issues that have long bedeviled peace and security in South Asia.

Excellencies,

I wish to congratulate Secretary General Nurlan Yermekbayev and Director (EC RATS) Ularbek Sharsheyev for their able guidance in ensuring the pursuit of our common goals.

Excellencies,

The strength of the SCO lies in our common history, but more importantly, in the shared future that we choose to build. Pakistan is ready to be an active architect of that future.

Let our work here be remembered for the tangible economic bridges we built for our people.

Thank you for your attention!

Moscow

November 18, 2025