Heads of CSTO Member States Participate in SCO Summit

The 23rd Meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Heads of State Council opened in New Delhi on July 4. The summit was held online under the chairmanship of Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India.

At the opening session, Mr Modi stressed that the SCO could be an important voice for reform of global institutions.

Sergei Aleinik, Foreign Minister of Belarus, said that a memorandum on the obligations of the Republic of Belarus in order to become a member state of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization was signed today. Belarus is expected to complete the process of joining the SCO as a fully-fledged member in 2024.

Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of Kazakhstan, noted that the country’s authorities would be enhancing the Organization’s role in the international arena during the forthcoming presidency of the SCO.

Sadyr Zhaparov, President of the Kyrgyz Republic, said at the Meeting of the SCO Heads of State Council that the Organization had become an inspiring example of a model of international relations based on mutual trust and benefit.

Vladimir Putin, President of Russia, stressed that ties among SCO members are becoming increasingly strong and multidimensional. He also welcomed Iran, which had joined the Organization, and noted how important it was in the current circumstances to strive together to form a just and multipolar world order.

Speaking on security issues, Emomali Rahmon, Tajikistan’s leader, stressed that the SCO region was facing increasing threats of terrorism, extremism and separatism. At the same time, increasing drug smuggling, cybercrime and organized trans-border crime necessitate closer cooperation between nations in the fight against crime.

Imangali Tasmagambetov, CSTO Secretary General, also took part in the meeting.

As you may recall, on March 17, 2023, Kazakhstan hosted a meeting of representatives of parliamentary assembly of the CSTO and the SCO who exchanged experience and reached agreements on further cooperation of the organizations. Back in October 2007, the CSTO and the SCO signed the Memorandum of Understanding that serves as a basis for regular contacts and joint work.