SCO makes a commendable input to consolidation of peace and stability in the region 

 

The international prestige of Uzbekistan has been continuously rising due to the dynamic progress in all spheres, peaceful policy of the state and consistent efforts to achieve security and stability in the region.

A strategic mechanism for achieving the high goals of joining the ranks of the developed states of the world has been developed in our country, steadily going under the leadership of President Islam Karimov on its own path of development. In this process, Uzbekistan pays special attention to the development of international cooperation, including in the framework of the influential international organizations, one of which is the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization, founded on June 15, 2001 in the Chinese city of Shanghai, has become a significant international organization with a solid position, effective approaches and specific objectives. The growing impact and authority of this organization in resolving urgent problems of global socio-economic and international consequence, ensuring security, stability and sustainable development in the world reasonably triggers the growing interest of many states in obtaining the status of full members, observers or dialogue partners of the SCO.

Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan have been members of the SCO since its establishment. India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, Mongolia and Belarus take part in the activities of the SCO as observers, while Turkey, Sri Lanka, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Cambodia and Nepal have the status of dialogue partners. After last year's >Ufa summit, the process of admitting India and Pakistan to the SCO as full members have started.

Over the past period, the SCO member states have carried out significant activities on reinforcing relations, based on trust and good-neighborliness and developing bilateral and multilateral effective partnership in trade, economic, socio-political, scientific and technical, cultural and humanitarian spheres, strengthening peace and tranquility, providing safety and stability.

The principles of mutual trust and commitment, equality, collegiality, respect for cultural diversity, common aspiration for development are strictly adhered to in the SCO activities.

SCO attaches priority importance to support and promote regional economic cooperation, fund joint projects, intensify direct contacts between businesspeople and financial institutions, development of cooperation in such areas as transport, infrastructure, information technology and telecommunications, banking and financial sectors. Solidification of bilateral and multilateral relations in the spheres of science, education, innovation, health, agriculture, environment and security is also one of the most important tasks of this international organization.

Two permanent bodies of the SCO - the Secretariat with headquarters in >Beijing and the Regional Antiterrorist Structure with headquarters in Tashkent, have been effectively functioning. The Secretariat is the executive body of the SCO, providing organizational, technical and information support to activities, carried out within the organization. The main objectives of the Regional anti-terrorist structure are developing measures to strengthen the joint counteraction to terrorism, extremism and separatism, trafficking of drugs and weapons, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, as well as the prevention of threats to international and regional security. 

In today's rapidly changing world, no global problem can be solved by the efforts of a single state. Likewise, environmental and safety problems require international cooperation. It is also worth noting that in April 2010, the year of the Republic of Uzbekistan's chairmanship in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, an important historical event in the activity of the SCO took place. During the visit of the Secretary-General of the United Nations to our country, a Joint Declaration on cooperation was signed between the Secretariats of the UN and SCO in Tashkent.

The adoption of this important document, which marked the beginning of the official UN-SCO cooperation, has created a solid basis for joint efforts in addressing urgent issues.

According to the norms and rules of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, SCO chairmanship passes to one of the Member States annually. Starting 11 July 2015 the Republic of Uzbekistan has taken on the SCO chairmanship.

It should be noted that Uzbekistan is one of the founder-states of the SCO. Our country has to date twice chaired the organization - in 2003-2004 and in 2009-2010. During these periods important documents and decisions on the improvement of the activity of the SCO, further expanding its cooperation in different directions were adopted.

This year chairmanship in the organization, celebrating its 15th anniversary, further increases the responsibility for the successful implementation of the envisaged plans for the future.

In accordance with the President Islam Karimov's decree on the preparation and conduct of the meeting of the Council of heads of the state of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in Tashkent, as well as other activities within the chairmanship of the Republic of Uzbekistan in the SCO, dated from of January 21, 2016 active preparation for this major event has been carried out in our country. Following the existing tradition, during its chairmanship period, Uzbekistan strictly adheres to and abides by the principles of consistent expansion and development of constructive and lasting cooperation, meeting the interests of the Member States, ensuring the steady growth of the authority of the organization in the international arena.

Our country, within its chairmanship of the SCO, has been making a worthy contribution to the effectiveness of the organization through the development and implementation of initiatives, related to advancement of international ties, strengthening its regulatory framework, ensuring security and stability in accordance with the goals, objectives and principles, reflected in the SCO Charter.