This year’s summit marks the first time the event is held in the format of a “meeting of the Council of Heads of SCO Member States” and an “SCO Plus” meeting.
The summit is attended by leaders and officials from Kazakhstan, Iran, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Belarus, Mongolia, Azerbaijan, Qatar, Turkey, Turkmenistan, the Emir of Ras al-Khaimah (UAE), the Indian Foreign Minister, and the SCO Secretary General. Additionally, the Director of the Executive Committee of the SCO Regional Anti-Terrorism Structure is present.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and leaders of various international organizations such as the CIS, ECO, CICA, CSTO, EEC, and IOSB are also participating in the event.
During the Council of Heads of State meeting, it is anticipated that the Astana Declaration, 20 decisions, and 3 statements, including the Initiative “On World Unity for a Just Peace, Harmony, and Development” and “On Improving the SCO,” will be adopted. A historic decision to grant full membership to the Republic of Belarus is also expected.
The summit will address a wide range of issues aimed at enhancing the multifaceted cooperation of the SCO, discussing its future prospects, and tackling current international and regional challenges.
The SCO Plus meeting will focus on the theme: “On World Unity for a Just World, Harmony, and Development.”
Notable attendees include Russian President Vladimir Putin, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Mongolian President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. Acting Iranian President Mohammad Mokhber, Emir of Ras al-Khaimah Saud ibn Saqr al-Qasimi, and Chairman of the Khalk Maslakhaty of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov are also in attendance.
Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Astana on July 2 for a state visit and was ceremonially welcomed by Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. Xi Jinping will also participate in the 24th meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the SCO.
