The Shanghai Cooperation Organization is one of most effective cooperation group among Eurasian states, aiming at political, security, and economic coordination. Russia and China established the SCO in 2001 as a way to counterbalance Western alliances in the areas of security, politics, and economics. Later on, many states joined SCO and Belarus is the most recent member state joining SCO in July 2024, after Iran. This organization comprises the world's three emerging economies and a huge geographical region comprising 40 percent of the world's population and nearly 24 percent of the world's geography. The SCO held a summit annually to strengthen its founding postulates, i.e. cooperation, economic growth, and regional security.
The 23rd summit of SCO held in Islamabad Pakistan, from 15-16 October, focused on collective security, economic growth, and countering terrorism. Following leaders from SCO member states attended the summit, Belarus Prime Minister of Rome Golovchenko, Chinese Premier Li Qiang, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, Indian foreign Minister S. Jaishankar, Tajik Prime Minister Kohir Rasulzoda, Kyrgyzstan's Chairman of Ministers Cabinet Zhaparov Akylbek, Kazakhstan Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov, Iran's First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref, and Uzbek Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov. According to a joint statement revealed by SCO meeting members, they assured their goals to "to further develop cooperation in the spheres of politics and security, trade, economy, finance and investment, and cultural and humanitarian ties to build a peaceful, safe, prosperous and ecologically clean planet Earth to achieve harmonious coexistence of man and nature".
Outcomes of the summit:
A total number of eight agreements were signed during the SCO Summit 2024 in Islamabad, mainly focusing on economic development, security, and trade. The leaders highlighted the need to enhance cooperation on other sites like digital economy, science, technology, and IT. The two founding members China and Russia aim to deepen their trade and investment projects. Both states will ensure food security in Russia and China and will create a new international transport corridor. The ten-member regional organization had criticized the protectionist policies of World Trade Organizations. Iran and Russia are the member states sanctioned unilaterally by the West. Leaders attending the summit were concerned about the protectionist measures by the WTO and sanctions from the United States. China is under tariffs on products such as EVs, steel, and aluminum by Canada and the United States. European Union is also following the path and set to put tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles. Beijing had responded with similar action. These sanctions and tariffs had impacted the trade and cooperation among SCO members, especially hindering the opportunities for third-world states. For instance, Pakistan cannot purchase oil or gas from Iran despite being neighbors and cost-effectiveness. Moreover the gas pipeline between both states cannot be completed and activated due to a cloud of sanctions from the US. The SCO summit called the unilateral sanctions illegal and highlighted their impact on third-world countries.
Pakistan had successfully arranged the SCO summit and it had positive outcomes for Pakistan, as after a long period of terrorism in the state, Pakistan was able to hold an international meeting of officials from Eurasia which shows their success in terrorism operations. Moreover, the visit of the foreign minister from India despite both states having hostile relations and a history of wars, opened gates for bilateral cooperation and talk. This can lower the long-standing conflict between both and can lead both states toward mutual progress and trade. The Indian foreign minister S.Jaishanker and officials from Pakistan both used friendly language giving a positive message and hope for cooperation in the future and mutual resolution of conflicts. Shehbaz Sharif, the Prime Minister of Pakistan had bilateral meetings with heads of government on the sidelines of the SCO summit, focusing on boosting Pakistan ties within the organization. PM Shehbaz met with leaders from Tajikistan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Turkmenistan, and discussed expanding cooperation in trade and investment for regional connectivity.PM Shehbaz had assessed possible collaborations with other member states in different fields during the sideline meetings. Pakistan aims and supports the expansion of the Belt and Road initiative for a connoted Eurasia. He stated “Flagship projects like the Belt and Road Initiative of President Xi Jinping, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor…should be expanded, focusing on developing road, rail, and digital infrastructure that enhances integration and cooperation across our region,” Shehbaz had emphasized that one should not look at BRI developmental project with political prism but should welcome this project for the development and connectivity of the region covering states of SCO. The integration and connectivity of this population will bring prosperity. Iran joined this regional organization in 2024 and during this tense situation in the Middle East, their attainment of the SCO summit enhanced their significance on a regional level. The next annual summit is going to be held in Russia which will further deepen the cooperation among the member states.
The SCO summit presented to the world a successful growth of regional cooperation in Eurasia. As Sino-India and Indo-Pak historical animosity did not hinder their coordination under SCO on a regional level, officials from these countries respected the regional cooperation and put aside their bilateral differences. This platform provides grounds for these states to resolve their clashes shortly. Moreover, it is a non-western cooperation of nearly ten densely populated and resource-rich states, aiming for coordination and mutual growth. This is a challenge to the US-dominated organizations, and it can lower the US influence over these Eurasian states, and bring a coordinated future from them without the influence and involvement of the United States.
Noor Zehra is an undergraduate student at the National Defence University, Islamabad.
