Erdoğan hosts COP31 leaders in Antalya with Shehbaz Sharif in the front row

Leaders of the countries and governments attending the COP31 Leaders’ Summit in Antalya took a group photo before the opening session, with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at the center. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stood in the front row after telling Erdoğan during the summit reception: “We are brothers.”

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stood in the front row of the group photo taken at the United Nations Climate Change Conference COP31 Leaders’ Summit in the Turkish city of Antalya on Wednesday, before the leaders moved to the opening session. The leaders lined up on a tiered platform in front of a panel bearing the logos of the United Nations and COP31 Türkiye, with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at the center as the summit’s host.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres stood beside Erdoğan on one side, while Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev stood on the other, followed by Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Shehbaz Sharif. The front row also included Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, whose country is overseeing the conference negotiations, and Simon Stiell, executive secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

COP31 leaders line up before the conference logo in Antalya for a group photo

A wider image released by the Turkish Presidency shows the leaders standing in several rows beneath the “COP31 Türkiye – Antalya” logo, with Erdoğan applauding alongside them. The UN programme had reserved this segment exclusively for heads of state and government.

“We are brothers”

Before the group photo, Erdoğan and Guterres welcomed the leaders one by one on the reception platform. When Shehbaz Sharif arrived, Guterres said, “It is wonderful to see you two together,” to which the Pakistani prime minister replied, “We are brothers.”

The footage shows Sharif walking along the passage toward the reception platform, shaking hands with Guterres and then warmly greeting Erdoğan. The three then pose for a photo, while Erdoğan keeps Sharif’s hand in his.

Türkiye and Pakistan have close relations that the two countries’ leaders regularly describe as fraternal. Pakistan is also among the countries most affected by climate change, having experienced devastating floods and severe heat waves in recent years.

102 leaders at two-day summit

According to Türkiye’s Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, 102 leaders from 95 countries across six continents are expected to attend the leaders’ summit on November 11 and 12. The participants include Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, whom Erdoğan welcomed in the morning.

After the group photo, the leaders moved to the plenary hall, where Erdoğan, Guterres and the Australian prime minister are scheduled to deliver opening speeches under the UN programme. COP31 in Antalya will continue through November 20.

Photos: Turkish Presidency and social media. Video: social media

Erdoğan hosts COP31 leaders in Antalya with Shehbaz Sharif in the front row