Russia, China, and Uzbekistan affirmed that close cooperation among Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Member States will yield clear benefits for them. This came in speeches delivered by the three countries' leaders during the opening of the 24th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), held in the Kazakh capital, Astana, under the theme "Strengthening Multilateral Dialogue - Striving for Sustainable Peace and Development." Russian President Vladimir Putin declared that the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation's Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (SCO RATS) will be transformed to a universal center. "Maintaining security in the member countries and along the organizations external borders has certainly been one of the SCOs priorities. That is why today, a decision was made to turn the SCO Regional Anti-Terrorism Structure into a universal center tasked with responding to the entire range of security threats, as well as to establish an anti-drug center in Dus hanbe," Putin said. "Russia puts a premium to the partnership cooperation within the SCO. We are pleased to note that this cooperation continues to develop steadily on the principles of equality, consideration of each other's interests, respect for cultural and civilization diversity, and the search for joint solutions to pressing security issues," Putin added. Close economic ties in the SCO space bring dividends to the members of the association, the Russian President said. Chinese President Xi Jinping called on SCO members to ensure security in face of real threat from Cold War mentality. Addressing the 24th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the SCO in Astana, Xi also urged the member states to adhere to the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, address complex and intertwined security challenges through dialogue and coordination, and respond to the profoundly changing international landscape with a win-win approach, so as to build a world of lasting peace and universal security. Xi warned that the world is standing at a crossroads of history again, noting that SCO members should adhere to mutual benefits and inclusiveness, join hands to push for scientific and technological innovation, keep industrial and supply chains stable and smooth, stimulate the internal impetus of regional economies, and work towards common development goals. President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev told the SCO summit in Astana that it is critical to preserve and further strengthen adherence to the SCO basic principles amid a challenging environment, pointing out that contradictions and rivalry resulted in an aggravation of geopolitical tension. Norms and principles of international law are violated with increasing frequency, he said. The President of Uzbekistan suggested building a joint platform, such as the SCO food security atlas, to unite the data on the agro-industrial potential of the countries. Sales between Uzbekistan and the SCO nations grew by 20% in 2023, and by 15% sinc e the beginning of 2024, he added. Source: Qatar News Agency

Russia, China, and Uzbekistan affirmed that close cooperation among Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Member States will yield clear benefits for them. This came in speeches delivered by the three countries' leaders during the opening of the 24th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), held in the Kazakh capital, Astana, under the theme "Strengthening Multilateral Dialogue - Striving for Sustainable Peace and Development." Russian President Vladimir Putin declared that the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation's Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (SCO RATS) will be transformed to a universal center. "Maintaining security in the member countries and along the organizations external borders has certainly been one of the SCOs priorities. That is why today, a decision was made to turn the SCO Regional Anti-Terrorism Structure into a universal center tasked with responding to the entire range of security threats, as well as to establish an anti-drug center in Dus hanbe," Putin said. "Russia puts a premium to the partnership cooperation within the SCO. We are pleased to note that this cooperation continues to develop steadily on the principles of equality, consideration of each other's interests, respect for cultural and civilization diversity, and the search for joint solutions to pressing security issues," Putin added. Close economic ties in the SCO space bring dividends to the members of the association, the Russian President said. Chinese President Xi Jinping called on SCO members to ensure security in face of real threat from Cold War mentality. Addressing the 24th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the SCO in Astana, Xi also urged the member states to adhere to the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, address complex and intertwined security challenges through dialogue and coordination, and respond to the profoundly changing international landscape with a win-win approach, so as to build a world of lasting peace and universal security. Xi warned that the world is standing at a crossroads of history again, noting that SCO members should adhere to mutual benefits and inclusiveness, join hands to push for scientific and technological innovation, keep industrial and supply chains stable and smooth, stimulate the internal impetus of regional economies, and work towards common development goals. President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev told the SCO summit in Astana that it is critical to preserve and further strengthen adherence to the SCO basic principles amid a challenging environment, pointing out that contradictions and rivalry resulted in an aggravation of geopolitical tension. Norms and principles of international law are violated with increasing frequency, he said. The President of Uzbekistan suggested building a joint platform, such as the SCO food security atlas, to unite the data on the agro-industrial potential of the countries. Sales between Uzbekistan and the SCO nations grew by 20% in 2023, and by 15% sinc e the beginning of 2024, he added. Source: Qatar News Agency