DUSHANBE, July 14, 2013, Asia-Plus — A meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) took place at the Cholpon-Ata resort town, Kyrgyzstan on July 13.
The meeting participants included Deputy Foreign Minister Kairat Sarybay of Kazakhstan, Foreign Minister Wang Yi of China, Foreign Minister Erlan Abdyldayev of Kyrgyzstan, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov of Russia, Foreign Minister Hamrokhon Zarifi of Tajikistan, and Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov of Uzbekistan.
In a statement released after the latest session of the SCO Foreign Ministers” Council, the participants reportedly noted that SCO members hold the same or similar positions on major global and regional issues, which is conducive to the development of their partnership.
Against the backdrop of profound changes in international relations, they said the primary task now is to act in unison to effectively tackle global threats and challenges and ensure the sustainable socioeconomic development of the SCO countries.
They pledged concerted efforts within the SCO framework to fight terrorism, extremism and separatism, as well as transnational crime, drug-trafficking, weapons and ammunition smuggling and other illicit activities.
They called for increased cooperation in such areas as economy and trade, investment, finance, transportation, communications, agriculture and innovation, noting that such efforts will contribute to SCO members” sustainable development.
They also voiced support for greater cooperation in the areas of science and technology, culture, health, tourism and disaster relief.
In addition, the participants stressed the necessity of encouraging SCO observers and dialogue partners to participate more extensively in practical cooperation within the SCO framework.
According to the Tajik MFA information department, the sides also exchanged views on a number of regional and international issues being of mutual interest.
Speaking at the meeting, Tajik Foreign minister Zarifi drew attention of those present to issues related to providing regional security, combating terrorism, political extremism, separatism and illegal drug trafficking as well as cooperation between the SCO and the United Nations on the Afghan problems and cooperation between the SCO member nations in energy and transportation sectors.
Taking into consideration the significance of rational use of water-and-energy resources in the region, Zarifi invited representatives of the SCO member nations to attend the High-Level International Conference on Water Cooperation that is expected to take place in Dushanbe from August 20-21.
The meeting participants reportedly also agreed to continue working on the procedures for interested parties to join the SCO and become full SCO members.
The gathering is a major event for the preparation of the 13th session of the SCO Council of Heads of State scheduled for September in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan.
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.
