DUSHANBE, January 21, 2015, Asia-Plus — Tajikistan’s lower house (Majlisi Namoyandagon) of parliament (Majlisi Oli) has ratified an agreement between the governments of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member nations on the facilitation of international road transport among the SCO member states.
A regular sitting of the sixth session of the Majlisi Namoyandagon of the fourth convocation, presided over by its head, Shukurjon Zuhurov, was held on January 21.
Speaking at the session, First Deputy Transport Minister, Sherali Ganjalzoda, noted that the issue of developing the mechanism for implementation of that agreement had been discussed by SCO experts for ten years.
“The agreement, in particular, provides for ensuring sustainable road transportation o cargo through territories of the SCO member nations, simplification of visa process and registration, and participation of the SCO member nations in development of transport infrastructure in territories of the SCO member states,” the deputy minister said.
According to him, the agreement also determines the route of road transportation from China to Tajikistan along the Urumqi-Dushanbe highway and provides for exempting the agreement signatories from paying the highway use tax.
The agreement aims to bolster regional road transport development, increase potential capabilities of cross-border transport among SCO member countries, and promote trade and investment within the region.
Founded by the leaders of China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan on June 15, 2001, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is an intergovernmental organization. Except for Uzbekistan, the other countries had been members of the Shanghai Five; after the inclusion of Uzbekistan in 2001, the members renamed the organization.
The Organization currently has six full members — China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Mongolia, Iran, Pakistan and India are four observer states, and SCO’s dialogue partners include Belarus, Sri Lanka and Turkey.
The Organization’s six full members account for 60% of the land mass of Eurasia and its population is a quarter of the world”s. With observer states included, its affiliates account for about half of the world”s population.
