Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang arrived in Pakistan on Monday to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit, scheduled for October 15 and 16. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif welcomed the Chinese leader, who was accompanied by ministers and senior officials from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Commerce, the National Development and Reform Commission, and the China International Development Cooperation Agency. The Chinese delegation was greeted with a 21-gun salute upon arrival.

During his visit, Premier Li Qiang is set to engage in comprehensive discussions with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, focusing on strengthening Pakistan-China relations. The talks will emphasize economic and trade ties, with particular attention to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project. The two leaders will also address regional and global developments, underscoring the strategic partnership between their countries.

In addition to meeting with Prime Minister Sharif, Premier Li will hold discussions with President Asif Ali Zardari and meet key parliamentary leaders and senior military officials of Pakistan. These meetings aim to reinforce the strong, all-weather strategic cooperative partnership between China and Pakistan.

SCO Summit in Islamabad

Pakistan is hosting the two-day SCO Council of Heads of Government meeting in Islamabad, with leaders from the bloc attending the event. The summit will focus on ongoing cooperation in the fields of economy, trade, environment, and socio-cultural linkages, as well as review the performance of the Organization.

The SCO meeting will see participation from the prime ministers of China, Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. India’s Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar and Iran’s First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref will also attend the event.

To ensure security during the summit, the Pakistan Army has been deployed in the federal capital. Army troops will be responsible for securing Islamabad’s Red Zone, which will host most of the meetings and is home to the parliament and a diplomatic enclave, according to the interior ministry.

In light of the summit, the government has announced a three-day “closed holiday” in Islamabad and Rawalpindi, from October 14 to 16, to facilitate the event’s proceedings.