SCO summit in June this year: spokesman

BEIJING: China will hold Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit June this year, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Geng Shuang announced here on Wednesday at regular press conference.

The countries that will be represented at the Summit include China, Pakistan, Russia, India, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. Replying to a question, he said, China certainly welcomes the heads of state or government of SCO members to attend the summit.

China is now working with member states to maintain close communication on various preparatory matters for the summit. He hoped all parties could make joint efforts to push the summit to a complete success and inject new impetus into the development of the SCO.

Earlier this month SCO Secretary-General Rashid Alimov paid a two-day official visit to Pakistan and held a meeting with the Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, seeking Pakistan’s participation in the summit as full member. This is the first visit of SCO Secretary General after Pakistan’s full membership of SCO. Pakistan shares with SCO and its Members, deep rooted historical and cultural links and strong economic and strategic complementarities.