A total of twenty-one documents have reportedly been signed at the nineteenth summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) that took place in the Kyrgyz capital of Bishkek.
The SCO summit in Bishkek brought together leaders of the Eurasian political, economic, and security grouping.
Chinese, Indian, Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Pakistani, Russian, Tajik and Uzbek leaders met behind closed doors on June 14 at Kyrgyzstan's official presidential residence Ala-Archa in Bishkek for narrow format talks.
Russian media reports say the summit focused on expanding cooperation within the SCO on security, fighting terrorism and drug trafficking, economic development, industry, and humanitarian cooperation. The SCO leaders also discussed the current situation in Afghanistan.
Speaking at the enlarged session of the SCO, President Sooronbay Jeenbekov noted that the Shanghai Cooperation Organization could become a platform for building a multipolar world.
Kyrgyz leader noted that when the SCO heads of state had met behind closed doors earlier that day, they had exchanged opinions about topical matters concerning the organization's operation and the international agenda.
Jeenbekov drew attention to regional security, further advancement of international cooperation, tight cooperation in fighting economic crimes, ensuring information security, promoting digitization and interaction in logistics.
Addressing the session, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon pointed to the necessity of jointly combating poverty.
“Unemployment, poverty and social vulnerability are the factors causing youth to joint terrorist and extremist groups. We consider it important to provide consolidated development of the whole social complex of the SCO countries’ potential,” Tajik leader was cited as saying by Sputnik Kyrgyzstan.
Rahmon also proposed to move forward on the issue of establishment of the SCO Development Bank and the SCO Development Fund. According to him, this will allow ensuring sustainable economic development within the SCO area.
Speaking at the session, Russian President Vladimir Putin noted that the fight against terrorism and extremism remains one priorities of the Organization.
He pointed to the necessity expanding cooperation within the frameworks of the SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure, blocking financial support for terrorism due to income from drug trafficking, and doing everything to prevent chemical and biological weapons and other mass destruction weapons from falling into hands of terrorists.
China’s Leader Xi Jinping stated that the SCO is intended to become a model of solidarity and mutual trust. “It is important to consistently follow the Shanghai spirit and follow the principles of the SCO as reflected in the treaty, strengthen political trust, create favorable conditions for bilateral and multilateral cooperation,” he said.
He noted the need to improve the legal base of the organization, as well as improve law enforcement in the information space and conduct joint exercises.
Xi also spoke about the importance of combating three evils and deepening the struggle in the area of de-radicalization.
According to the Kyrgyz presidential press service, SCO member nations signed a total of 21 documents, including the one concerning the organization’s intention to adopt a roadmap on the future activities of the SCO – Afghanistan Contact Group, an action plan on the implementation of the SCO’s 2018-2023 Anti-Drug Strategy and a document on humanitarian cooperation with the United Nations.
