SCO Council of Foreign Ministers Concludes Meeting in Astana

Astana, The Gulf Observer: The Council of Foreign Ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) concluded its meeting in Astana, marking a significant step in multilateral cooperation across political, economic, and cultural spheres. Zhang Ming, Secretary General of the SCO, provided a comprehensive summary of the meeting’s outcomes.

According to Zhang Ming, the council adopted 22 decisions aimed at enhancing multilateral cooperation in political and diplomatic, trade and economic, and cultural-humanitarian domains. Additionally, the council approved the report of the SCO Secretary General on the activities of the SCO Secretariat from May 2023 to May 2024.

Expressing his gratitude, Zhang Ming thanked Kazakh Minister of Foreign Affairs Murat Nurtleu, the staff of the Kazakh Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Kazakhstani partners for their professional organization, assistance, and warm hospitality extended to the SCO Secretariat delegation.

The meeting saw the participation of foreign ministers or their deputies from all SCO member countries, the Director of the Executive Committee of the SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) Ruslan Mirzaev, and Belarusian Foreign Minister Syarhey Aleynik. During the session, Zhang Ming and Syarhey Aleynik discussed the procedural aspects of granting SCO membership to Belarus.

The SCO Foreign Ministers’ Council convened in an extended format, which included observer states, partners, and the UN Secretary General. A primary objective of the meeting was to prepare for the upcoming SCO Heads of State Summit scheduled for July in Astana.

The successful conclusion of the meeting underscores the SCO’s ongoing commitment to fostering regional cooperation and addressing shared challenges through dialogue and collaboration.