Islamabad, Pakistan - July 4, 2024

Storyline:
A Pakistani expert on Thursday emphasized the importance of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) members pursuing peaceful development and highlighted their potential in positively shaping current international relations through multilateralism.

In an interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN) in Islamabad, Talat Shabbir, director of the China-Pakistan Study Center at the Institute of Strategic Studies in Islamabad, highlighted the significance of fostering peaceful development among Pakistan and other SCO members, recognizing the mutual benefits such efforts can bring to these countries.

His comments came as the two-day 24th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, or the SCO summit, concluded in Astana, capital of Kazakhstan, on Thursday.

According to the expert, SCO members recognize the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) proposed by China as a vital platform for promoting connectivity among all member states.

The expert highlighted that SCO members, under the banner of multilateralism, have the potential to positively impact current international relations.

In a major development for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, Belarus was formally accepted as the 10th member state of the inter-governmental organization on Thursday.

The SCO, established in 2001, now has 10 member states, two observer states and 14 dialogue partners.

Shotlist:
Islamabad, Pakistan - July 4, 2024:
FILE: Islamabad, Pakistan - Date Unknown
1. Aerial shot of national flag of Pakistan;
2. Aerial shot of cityscape;
FILE: Pakistan - Date Unknown
3. Various of cityscape, traffic;
Islamabad, Pakistan - July 4, 2024
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Talat Shabbir, director, China-Pakistan Study Center at Institute of Strategic Studies (ending with shots 5-6):
"From Pakistan's perspective, it's very important that regional countries, they come together, they sit together, they talk of their disputes first, they talk of peace options that are available, and I think if they talk of peace options only then they can contribute to, they can move further.";
[SHOTS OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE]
Astana, Kazakhstan - July 4, 2024
5. Venue for 24th Meeting of Council of Heads of State of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO);
6. Various of banners outside venue
[SHOTS OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE];
7. Various of flags;
Islamabad, Pakistan - July 4, 2024
8. Interview in progress;
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Talat Shabbir, director, China-Pakistan Study Center at Institute of Strategic Studies (starting with shot 8):
"[The] Belt and Road Initiative is an important component, important with regards to connectivity efforts that all the countries are making. One good thing is that China is part of this forum, and most countries who are part of the forum believe in Belt and Road Initiative efforts that China is doing. So, I think it is an opportunity for all the countries to take advantage of Belt and Road Initiative by China in order for promoting connectivity amongst all the member states.";
Astana, Kazakhstan - Recent
10. Various of board showing SCO summit information;
Islamabad, Pakistan - July 4, 2024
11. SOUNDBITE (English) Talat Shabbir, director, China-Pakistan Study Center at Institute of Strategic Studies (partially overlaid with shot 12):
"The countries included in the forum are very important countries, and very important countries with regards to the larger region that we talk of. So, I think if these countries decide to come to some terms with regards to peace, with regards to trade and economy, so it will greatly help the overall international atmosphere of peace and connectivity."
[SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE];
12. Interview in progress
[SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE];
Astana, Kazakhstan - Recent
13. Various of pedestrians, SCO logo on board;
14. Various of traffic, board showing SCO summit information.

[Restriction - No access Chinese mainland]