Pak PM to visit Russia tomorrow to attend SCO summit

Pakistan Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi will travel to Russia tomorrow to attend the summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, a security grouping increasingly seen as a counterweight to NATO.
Abbasi was invited by Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev to attend the 16th Meeting of the Council of the Heads of Government of the SCO from November 30 to December 1 in Sochi, Russia, the Foreign Office said in a statement here.
This is the first SCO Heads of Government meeting that Pakistan will participate in after assumption of full membership in June this year, the statement said.
The meeting is mandated to focus on the strategy, prospects and priorities for SCOs developmental cooperation.

The SCO now comprises eight member states: Pakistan, India, China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. It has four observer states: Iran, Afghanistan, Belarus and Mongolia and six dialogue partners: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Cambodia, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Turkey.
SCO's objectives include building mutual trust, equality, respect for cultural diversity and good-neighborly relations.

It aims to promote effective cooperation in the areas of political, security, trade, economy and social sectors. SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) contributes towards regional peace, security and stability.
Prime Minister Abbasi will also participate in the SCO Retreat being hosted by the Russian prime minister with his other SCO counterparts. The Retreat will be followed by a Plenary Session of the Council of Heads of Government where Abbasi will deliver a statement.

At the plenary, Abbasi will outline Pakistans commitment to SCOs objectives including fighting terrorism and extremism and its sincere interest in regional peace, stability and development.
Abbasi will also hold bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the summit.