Tashkent, June 06, 2024, The Europe Today: Belarus will officially become a full member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) at the upcoming Astana summit in July, announced Zhang Ming, Secretary-General of the SCO, during the forum “SCO’s Role in New Conditions: Joining Efforts for Universal Security, Stability, and Prosperity” held in Tashkent, as reported by BELTA.
Zhang Ming highlighted the continuous expansion of the SCO, stating, “The SCO family is growing bigger and bigger.” He emphasized that the inclusion of Belarus will bring the number of SCO member states to a historic double-digit figure. “At the upcoming SCO summit in Astana next month, a decision will be made on Belarus’ accession to the organization,” he said.
Reflecting on the organization’s evolution, Zhang Ming noted, “Over more than 20 years, the organization has transformed from a regional platform for meetings of heads of state into a huge, comprehensive international organization.”
Discussing future cooperation, Zhang Ming underscored that the SCO addresses a wide range of issues beyond high-level political and security matters. “The SCO deals with not only ‘highest-level’ tasks, such as politics, diplomacy, peace, development, and security, but also with matters that have to do with people’s everyday life, such as tourism, sports, and waste management,” he explained.
He further praised the organization’s achievements, asserting, “The above-mentioned achievements eloquently show that the Shanghai spirit is consistent with common interests, the organization’s original purpose of maintaining security and stability, ensuring sustainable development. Cooperation within the SCO will only grow stronger.”
The 19th meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Forum is currently taking place in Tashkent, organized by the Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan. The event features participation from over 40 experts from 10 countries, including national think tanks from SCO member states, specialists from observer states, dialogue partners, and leadership from the SCO Secretariat and the Executive Committee of the SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure.
Zhang Ming remarked that the forum will address topics crucial to the development of the SCO in the new era, further solidifying its role in fostering international cooperation and stability.
