The summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) has concluded in Astana. Heads of state and government from 16 countries, along with leaders of prestigious international organizations, gathered in the Kazakh capital to discuss a range of globally significant issues. The SCO Heads of State Council meeting addressed concerns of the entire global community. The Organization has evolved into one of the most influential international structures and an important mechanism in the system of international relations, making a substantial contribution to ensuring sustainable growth, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev noted.
«Currently, the economies of the SCO member states are showing high growth rates ranging from four to nine percent. The SCO countries already account for 30 percent of global GDP. To date, the external trade volume among member states exceeds $8 trillion, equivalent to a quarter of global trade. In this regard, I would like to emphasize that the new economic rise of Asia, which holds historical significance and is largely driven by the SCO member states, serves as a stabilizing factor for the entire global economy. Kazakhstan welcomes China’s intention to expand the SCO countries’ access to its vast market and to increase trade turnover with the member states to $3 trillion,» said President Tokayev.
The heads of other states have also acknowledged the SCO’s role in addressing international problems. According to them, Kazakhstan has undertaken an enormous work in this regard. The consolidation of joint efforts in the face of global changes remains the priority for further cooperation among the countries of the Shanghai Ten.
«I consider it crucial that our countries provide comprehensive support to each other on vital matters of security, sovereignty, economic development, and others. The fundamental principle of the SCO’s work remains the equality of member states, specifically embodied in the provision for decision-making by consensus, which should continue to guide the Organization in the future,» said Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov.
«It is time to develop a new SCO agenda that corresponds to the vast potential and increasing role of our Organization in global politics and economy. Based on the Shanghai Spirit and the fundamental principles of the Charter, it is essential to maintain unity and cohesion within the Organization. I propose intensifying joint efforts to strengthen the atmosphere of trust and friendship within the SCO,» said Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.
«It is believed that collective efforts lead to victory, and a collective mind leads to success. Solidarity and interaction as part of the successful experience of the SCO are the only viable options for responding to changes and opening up horizons on a new journey,» said Chinese President Xi Jinping.
As noted by experts, this event will certainly be marked in history as the beginning of a new era in the SCO development. After successfully concluding its chairmanship, Kazakhstan has handed over the leadership to China. The leadership structure of the Organization has also seen the transfer of powers, with Nurlan Yermekbayev from Kazakhstan replacing the former SCO Secretary-General Zhang Ming.
