Astana (Kazakhstan): President Asif Ali Zardari arrived here on Tuesday to represent Pakistan at the 10th summit of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) being hosted by the Kazakh government. As President Zardari alighted from his special aircraft at Astana’s International Airport along with his delegation, he was warmly received by Kazakh Prime Minister Karim Massimov. Pakistan’s Ambassador to Kazakhstan Akhtar Tufail and other senior officials were also present.
President Zardari was accompanied by Defence Minister Ahmed Mukhtar, Interior Minister Rehman Malik and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar.
From the airport, President Zardari left for Ak Orda Presidential Palace to hold a bilateral meeting with President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev.
Leaders of Central and South Asia at the SCO summit will be celebrating the 10th anniversary of the organization. President Zardari will address the SCO summit and share views with the regional leaders on the serious challenges facing the region.
Pakistan attaches great importance to the regional organization which has members like the second biggest economy of the world China, Russia and natural resources rich Central Asian states.
As the SCO is expected to adopt a memorandum on the status of observer states, Pakistan will enter into negotiations to ultimately achieve membership of the regional grouping, which is playing a key role in maintaining peace and stability in Asia and beyond.
President Zardari is also expected to hold bilateral meetings with SCO leaders on the sidelines of the summit.
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