BEIJING, Nov 10 (China Economic Net) – Pakistani students won awards at Model Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) 2026 in Beijing.

The conference was held on Oct. 30 at the SCO Secretariat in Beijing, bringing together 24 delegates under the theme "SCO-25: Sustainable Economic Development and Digital Transformation: Youth Vision for the Future of the SCO." It was organized by SCOLAR Network with the support of the SCO Secretariat.

Dr. Muhammad Nadir Shabbir, a faculty member at Tsinghua University, played the role of SCO secretary-general in the simulation and received a Best Performance award.

The Pakistani delegation, comprising Aizaz Ahmed, Kamran Khan and Chinese student Jialu Zheng, chaired the simulated session of the SCO Council of Heads of State and received the Best Position Paper award.

Other Pakistani students also took on roles in the simulation. Fareed Ahmed Nasir, from Beijing Language and Culture University, represented China, while Ahmed Zamir Awan, from Beijing Institute of Technology, represented Iran. Mahnoor Bilal, from Pakistan Embassy College Beijing, played the role of director of the SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS).

During the conference, delegates discussed a range of issues related to regional development, including digital skills, artificial intelligence in industry and agriculture, cross-border digital trade, infrastructure financing and green energy.

They also examined challenges such as the digital divide in rural areas, delays in cross-border trade and climate-related risks, putting forward proposals to strengthen regional cooperation.

Proposals incorporated into the Model SCO Declaration included an SCO AI Academy "Train-the-Trainer" initiative, an SCO Youth Digital Skills, Access and Employment Network and an SCO-wide Digital Trade Corridor.

Pakistan's role as chair of the simulated Council of Heads of State session reflected its SCO chairmanship for 2026–2027, which it assumed at the Bishkek Summit on Sept. 1.

At the closing ceremony, SCO Deputy Secretary-General Sohail Khan, who also opened the conference, presented the awards.