SCO Summit Commences in Astana
Astana, The Gulf Observer: The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit commenced today in Astana, with the opening ceremony graced by the President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. The event was reported by media.
In his opening address, President Tokayev highlighted the significant role of the SCO in international relations over the past quarter-century. “For almost a quarter of a century, our organization has become an important mechanism in the system of international relations and makes a significant contribution to ensuring sustainable growth and overall progress. Fruitful interaction in the spheres of politics and security, economics and culture of our countries sets the vector for the development of the entire Eurasian continent. Through joint efforts, strengthening the Shanghai spirit and promoting Shanghai principles, we have turned the SCO into one of the most influential and authoritative international structures. Thanks to the uniqueness and enormous potential of our association, interest in it in the world is steadily growing,” said Tokayev.
The summit began with a historic signing ceremony that granted full membership to the Republic of Belarus. “Today at the summit we will make an important decision on the further expansion of the organization,” Tokayev remarked.
The summit gathered leaders from member and observer states, along with dialogue partners. The leaders are set to discuss a comprehensive agenda covering political, trade-economic, and cultural-humanitarian cooperation. Key issues such as countering terrorism, combating the “three forces of evil”, anti-drug activities, suppressing cross-border organized crime, and ensuring information security are expected to be at the forefront of the discussions.
New agreements and cooperative measures in these areas are anticipated to be formalized during the meeting of the Heads of State, reinforcing the SCO’s commitment to regional stability and development.
