DUSHANBE, May 16, 2011, Asia-Plus — Tajik Foreign Minister Hamrokhon Zarifi attended a regular meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) that was held in Almaty, Kazakhstan on May 14. The SCO foreign ministers met in Almaty on regional peace and security.
Attendees exchanged views on boosting practical cooperation among SCO member countries and major regional and international issues, and making preparations for the upcoming SCO summit in June, the Tajik MFA information department reports.
This year also marks the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). Having reviewed what the SCO has achieved in the past 10 years, the foreign ministers were of one mind that the SCO has raised its international profile and played a positive role in promoting regional peace and stability as well as the economic and social development of its member states.
They agreed that in the current international situation, the SCO needs to further strengthen its internal mechanism and boost practical cooperation in such areas as security and economy.
They also expressed their willingness to strengthen coordination and cooperation to ensure the success of the SCO Astana Summit, which will mark the 10th anniversary of the SCO.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization or SCO is an intergovernmental mutual-security organization which was founded in 2001 in Shanghai by the leaders of China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Except for Uzbekistan, the other countries had been members of the Shanghai Five, founded in 1996; after the inclusion of Uzbekistan in 2001, the members renamed the organization.
During his stay in Almaty, Hamrokhon Zarifi held a number of bilateral meetings with his counterparts from other countries on Saturday.
Zarifi’s meeting with Kazakh Minister Foreign Affairs Yerzhan Kazykhanov focused on state and prospects of bilateral cooperation between Tajikistan and Kazakhstan in different fields as well as preparations for the jubilee SCO summit that will take place in the Kazakh capital Astana.
On the same day, Tajik minister met with head of Spain’s political delegation, Michel Martinos, the source said.
