NSA Meets SCO Leaders in Beijing, Pushes for Collective Security Framework

ISLAMABAD / BEIJING – Pakistan’s National Security Adviser (NSA), Lt. Gen. Muhammad Asim Malik, attended the 20th Meeting of the Secretaries of the Security Council of SCO Member States held in Beijing, China, reaffirming Pakistan’s firm stance on regional peace, dialogue, and multilateral cooperation.

During his visit, Lt. Gen. Malik delivered a key speech that outlined Pakistan’s views on evolving global and regional security challenges. He highlighted the country’s contributions to peace and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to acting as a Net Regional Stabilizer, supporting dialogue-driven solutions over conflict.

In addition to his speech, the NSA held bilateral meetings with key Chinese officials and counterparts from other SCO member states. These meetings focused on enhancing security cooperation, strengthening counter-terrorism mechanisms, and building mutual trust among SCO nations.

The NSA reiterated Pakistan’s vision for a peaceful neighborhood and its consistent advocacy for diplomacy and collective security. His engagements reflect Islamabad’s growing diplomatic outreach within the SCO framework to promote multilateral peacebuilding efforts.

Back in Islamabad, Chinese Ambassador Jiang Zaidong met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, appreciating Pakistan’s proactive diplomatic engagement at forums such as the United Nations Security Council and the SCO. The two leaders discussed recent regional security developments, particularly the Iran-Israel tensions, and reaffirmed commitment to dialogue and diplomacy as tools for conflict resolution.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif extended his warm regards to President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang, and conveyed his sincere best wishes for the success of the upcoming SCO Summit. He acknowledged ongoing preparations for his upcoming visit to China in late August 2025 to participate in the summit.

The Prime Minister highlighted Pakistan’s commitment to the All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership with China and reaffirmed continued collaboration on key CPEC projects, including the ML-1 railway upgrade, realignment of the Karakoram Highway, Gwadar Port operations, and joint ventures in agriculture, IT, and industrial zones.

He expressed deep appreciation for China’s consistent financial and economic support, noting that it played a crucial role in stabilizing Pakistan’s economy and improving its macro-economic outlook—an essential step toward achieving Pakistan’s socio-economic development goals.

Ambassador Jiang Zaidong reiterated China’s commitment to further strengthening bilateral ties and confirmed that preparations were already underway to ensure the success of PM Shehbaz’s upcoming visit.