SCO Summit: President accorded warm welcome on arrival at Tashkent
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TASHKENT: (APP) President Mamnoon Hussain was accorded warm welcome on his arrival at the Uzbek capital on Wednesday to attend the 16th heads of state meeting of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).
Uzbekistan's Prime Minister Shavkat Mirziyoyav received the President as he arrived at the Tashkent-One Airport.
Advisor to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz and Foreign Secretary Aizaz Chaudhry accompanied the President.
A contingent of armed forces presented salute to the President. Young girls attired in traditional Uzbek costumes presented bouquets to the President.
President Mamnoon Hussain and the Uzbek Prime Minister also held a meeting before leaving the airport lounge and exchanged views on bilateral matters. The two sides also discussed the significance of the SCO summit which will grant full membership to Pakistan.
Uzbek Foreign Minister Abdul Aziz Kamalov, Uzbek Ambassador to Pakistan Furqat Sidiqov and Pakistan's Ambassador Riaz H. Bukhari were present.
The President earlier made a stopover in Samarkand where he visited the mausoleums of Imam Bukhari and Amir Temur.
During his stay in Tashkent, the President besides attending the SCO summit will hold sideline meetings with Chinese president Xi Jinping, Uzbek President Islam Karimov and Tajiksitan's President Emomali Rahmon.
In accordance with the summit agenda, the Heads of State will discuss the issues of further deepening multifaceted and mutually beneficial cooperation within the frameworks of the SCO, as well as exchange views on regional and international issues.
Pakistan became the observer state of SCO in 2005 and was the first country to apply for full membership in 2010.
