Kazakhstan Chairs the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation up to July 2024
From July 5, 2023 to June 2024, Kazakhstan chairs the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.
During the presidency, Kazakhstan intends to focus the joint efforts of the Member States on the following areas:
- improvement of the SCO and its transformation into an even more effective platform;
- strengthening the capacity to ensure security and stability in the SCO space;
- deepening ties in the field of economy and trade;
- deepening cooperation in the cultural and humanitarian sphere;
- expansion of the SCO and development of its international relations.
On July 4, 2023, at the SCO Summit, President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev outlined specific priorities of the Chairmanship.
1.Strengthening the SCO's potential
Work has begun on reforming the SCO and optimizing its activities in key areas.
One of the important steps on this path is the adoption of the SCO Development Strategy until 2035 and the Concept of Improving the SCO activities at the SCO Summit in June 2024 in Kazakhstan. The documents are aimed at deepening practical cooperation, including the algorithm of progressive reform of the SCO.
2. Strengthening cooperation in the field of security and stability
Issues of regional security and mutual trust are among the main topics on the organisation's agenda. Taking into account the current trends in world politics and economy, Kazakhstan proposes to update the SCO's approaches to modern challenges and threats.
In this aspect, Kazakhstan proposes to jointly promote the SCO common initiative "on world unity for peace and harmony". This comprehensive document contains principles for strengthening confidence-building measures, maintaining stability and security in the region.
Great importance will be given to the formation of an updated Program of cooperation of the SCO member states on countering terrorism, separatism and extremism for 2025-2027.
It is necessary to adopt an updated Anti-Drug Strategy and an Action Program for its implementation. In practical terms, it is proposed to continue the practice of holding the SCO international actions "For a World without Drugs" and operation called "Web" with the involvement of observer states and the SCO’s dialogue partners.
3. Expansion of trade and economic ties
The ongoing global economic crisis and its consequences require the SCO to strengthen regional trade and economic ties and open up opportunities for developing a new economic agenda.
The efforts of the member states will be aimed at the effective implementation of the SCO Economic Development Strategy until 2030.
An initiative has been put forward to create the SCO Investment Fund. We consider it as a promising practical step in terms of strengthening investment synergy in the SCO.
The priority of the Kazakh chairmanship is also energy issues. We attach great importance to the coordination of efforts in ensuring the energy transition, decarbonization of the economy and industry through the adoption of the SCO Energy Strategy. In this context, the results of the SCO Energy Forum on October 3-4, 2023 in Astana may be promising.
Given the considerable transport potential of the SCO member states, it is crucial to ensure the interconnectedness of rail, road, sea and air routes. In this context, Kazakhstan invited the countries to form a partnership network of large strategic ports and logistics centers.
In order to increase cooperation in reducing digital inequality, expanding the financial technology market, promoting e-commerce and developing the banking ecosystem, Kazakhstan is holding the SCO Digital Forum in 2024.
4. Deepening cultural and humanitarian cooperation
The cultural and humanitarian dimension is one of the most dynamically developing areas of interaction within the SCO.
Much attention will be paid to the implementation of the SCO Spiritual Shrines project and the providing the SCO International Scientific and Practical Conference on: "The Golden Horde and its Legacy" in Turkestan with the participation of leading experts, scientists of the member states.
In order to effectively combat climate change, improve food security, water supply, and biodiversity conservation, 2024 was declared the Year of Ecology on the initiative of Kazakhstan.
It is expected to adopt an intergovernmental agreement on cooperation in the field of environmental protection, a program of cooperation in the development of specially protected natural areas and eco-tourism, a Memorandum of understanding between the SCO Secretariat and UNEP.
For the entire period of its chairmanship, the city of Almaty has been declared the tourist and cultural capital of the SCO. A plan of relevant events has been developed and adopted with the participation of well-known figures of culture and art, sports and science of the SCO member states.
5. Expansion of the SCO and further development of its international relations
Work will continue to further deepen and expand the SCO's international relations with multilateral structures, observers and the SCO’s dialogue partners.
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Kazakhstan during its chairmanship at the SCO will make every effort to modernise the organisation and further transform it into a more effective multilateral platform in order to strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation and traditional ties of friendship between the SCO member states.