SCO meet in Goa: Pakistan Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto is likely to reach Goa today (May 2) evening round 4:30 pm by a charted aircraft for Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Foreign Ministers assembly. Earlier, Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry stated that Bhutto will lead the Pakistani delegation to the assembly of SCO Foreign Ministers in Goa.
During a weekly press convention final week, Pakistan Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said that Bhutto is attending the SCO Foreign Ministers’ assembly on the invitation of India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. “Our participation at the meeting reflects Pakistan’s continued commitment to the SCO charter and process and the importance that Pakistan accords to the region in its foreign policy priorities,” the spokesperson stated.
According to experiences, Bhutto would be the first Pakistani Foreign Minister to go to India after a spot of practically 12 years. In 2011, then Pakistan Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar had visited India.
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EAM Jaishankar takes inventory of preparations
Meanwhile, on Wednesday, Jaishankar reached Goa to examine the preparations for India’s presidency of the SCO Foreign Ministers’ assembly. India took over the rotating presidency of the SCO on the Samarkand SCO Summit in 2022. This 12 months India is internet hosting a number of vital SCO conferences together with the Foreign Ministers’ assembly in Goa from May 4-5.
Notably, India had despatched formal invites to all SCO members and the international ministers of China, Pakistan and Russia have confirmed their participation within the assembly. On its Foreign Minister’s go to to India, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson stated on Tuesday that on the assembly Qin Gang will trade views with different SCO member states’ international ministers on the worldwide and regional scenario.
Russia’s Foreign Minister to additionally attend
Meanwhile, Russia’s Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov may also participate within the SCO Foreign Ministers’ Meeting on May 4. Regarding the identical, the Russian Embassy in India stated, “On May 4-5, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will take part in the meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) member states in India.” A Russian official launch stated that deliberation over “topical issues of the international and regional agenda” may also be raised by Foreign Minister Lavrov.
It is value mentioning right here that Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) was shaped in 2001. Its members embrace India, Russia, China, Pakistan, and 4 central Asian international locations – Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
(With inputs from companies)