ISLAMABAD , May 4, 2023: Foreign Miniter Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Thursday departed for India to attend a two-day meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) that is kicking off today.
Mr Bhutto will land in India’s state Goa to attend the meeting of the foreign ministers of SCO member states.
Upon Pakistan’s request, the minister was granted sepcial permission by the Indian civil aviation authority to use the Indian airspace.
The attendants will discuss wide range of issues including economic coordination and regional security. It will be the first visit of a Pakistani high-ranking government official to India since the visit of formerPrime Minister Nawaz Sharif in 2014.
According to Foreign Office, Pakistan delegation is attending the meeting at the invitation of India’s Minister for External Affairs Dr S Jaishankar who is current Chair of the SCO, CFM.
The Foreign Office said our participation in the meeting reflects Pakistan’s commitment to the SCO Charter and processes and the importance that Islamabad accords to the region in its foreign policy priorities.
Since becoming a member in 2017, Pakistan has been actively and constructively contributing in all SCO activities to realize its multi-sectoral aims and objectives in a mutually beneficial manner.
On the sidelines of the CFM meeting, the Foreign Minister will also meet with his counterparts of friendly countries.