Pakistan's Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif warmly greeted Chinese Premier Li Qiang upon his arrival in Islamabad on Monday to participate in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting.
Islamabad was placed under a stringent security lockdown as Premier Li Qiang arrived in the city, marking his first visit to Pakistan in 11 years, according to the Prime Minister's Office. Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif personally received Li at the airport. The government declared a three-day public holiday in Islamabad, closing schools and businesses, and deploying substantial police and paramilitary forces.
The Pakistan army will oversee the security of the capital's Red Zone, home to the parliament and diplomatic enclaves, where most meetings will occur, as per the interior ministry. The threat level in South Asia has been elevated ahead of the SCO summit, particularly following the killing of two Chinese engineers and the shooting of 21 miners.
Tensions have escalated after jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan called for a protest on October 15 to demand his release and oppose the coalition government, following violent clashes between his supporters and security forces. Islamabad has restricted the movement of Chinese nationals in the city, fearing they could be targets for separatist militants.
The 23rd SCO meeting, featuring nine full members including China, India, Iran, and Russia, is set to take place on Tuesday and Wednesday in Islamabad.
In addition to the SCO summit, Premier Li Qiang is conducting a four-day bilateral visit to Pakistan from Monday to Thursday, accompanied by senior officials, according to Pakistan's foreign office. Li and Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif will lead their respective delegations to discuss economic and trade ties and cooperation under the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a $65 billion investment project under Chinese President Xi Jinping's Belt and Road Initiative. Li will also inaugurate the CPEC-funded Gwadar International Airport in southwestern Balochistan province, which borders Afghanistan and Iran, as stated by the Prime Minister's Office.
The SCO participants will be represented by the prime ministers of China, Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, as well as the first vice president of Iran and the external affairs minister of India, according to the foreign office.
