SCO summit to begin tomorrow in Tashkent

A two-day meeting of heads of state of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) under the presidency of Uzbekistan will begin tomorrow in Tashkent. Addressing the media, Uzbekistan's Deputy Foreign Minister Anvar Nasirov said that the issues of strengthening stability and security in Central Asia, expansion of SCO’s contacts with other international organization and states, as well as wide involvement of the SCO observer states and dialogue partners in practical cooperation within the organization will be addressed during the summit. He said, the heads of state will discuss the issues of further deepening multifaceted and mutually beneficial cooperation within the SCO framework and would exchange views on important regional and international issues.

Mr Nasirov said, India and Pakistan will sign a memorandum of obligation during the summit for obtaining SCO member states status. At the end of the summit, the Tashkent Declaration on the fifteenth anniversary of the SCO is likely to be adopted which will contain assessment of 15 years of activities, coordinated approach by member states to the prospects of development of the SCO.

The heads of the state will also approve the Action Plan for 2016-2020 to implement the SCO’s development strategy until 2015. The SCO’s development strategy was adopted in the Ufa summit held last year. The SCO’s development strategy included actions in the main areas of equal and mutually beneficial



cooperation of the SCO countries in political, security, economic, cultural, and in international spheres. 

Addressing media, Mr Nasirov said that SCO countries will strategies for creation of the region of peace, sustainable development, economic growth and progress, mutual trust, good neighbourliness, friendship and prosperity in the SCO area. By stating that development of the SCO as multi-regional organization, which does not stipulate a formation of a military -political union or economic integration association by the establishment of supranational institutions of governance, the idea of having a free trade area seems to have been put to rest. Joining of India and Pakistan as permanent members of the block is likely to improve the political and economic potentials of the block and may infuse vigour in the organizations approach. 

The heads of SCO member states of Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyztan, Tajikistan, and Russia have officially confirmed their participation in the summit. From Observer states Prime Minister of India, Presidents of Afghanistan, Belarus, Mongolia, Pakistan, and Foreign Ministers of Iran will also take part in the summit. In accordance with Charter and Rules of Procedure of SCO President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov will chair the meeting. The event in Tashkent will witness the gathering of around 1000 representatives of the SCO member states, international organizations, as well as foreign media.