In an online meeting of the Council of Heads of State held as part of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit, Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev called for the adoption of a new development strategy for the organization, Turanews.kz reports.
Tokayev noted that the SCO has expanded to include Iran and is about to welcome Belarus as a new member. He said that the organization now represents almost half of the world’s population and accounts for a quarter of the world economy.
Tokayev highlighted the SCO’s role in fighting “three evil forces”: cross-border organized crime, drug smuggling, and cybercrime. He proposed adopting the Organization’s Anti-Drugs Strategy and action program for the period 2024-2029.
Tokayev also proposed the establishment of a partnership network that includes strategic ports and logistics centers for the establishment of the SCO Joint Investment Fund, the Road and Belt Project, and the development of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route.
He said that Kazakhstan will attach importance to strengthening cooperation in the field of energy among the SCO member states and proposed approving the SCO Energy Strategy at the next Astana Summit.
Tokayev also pointed to climate change and increasing natural disasters and said that the SCO should combine efforts to solve environmental problems.
He proposed declaring Almaty as the “tourism and culture capital” of the SCO during Kazakhstan’s term presidency.
Tokayev concluded by saying that the time has come for the SCO to adopt a new development strategy. Kazakhstan has developed a draft of this document and plans to introduce it during its next presidency. He invited all SCO members to the next SCO Summit, which will be held in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan.
