This document will lay down the principles of strengthening confidence-building measures, maintaining stability and security, ET has learnt. And the main task of this document is to prevent a geopolitical fault between East and West, sources here said.
Tokayev noted that the Astana SCO summit will be held under the slogan “Strengthening multilateral dialogue – the pursuit of sustainable peace and development.”
Kazakhstan has also put forward major initiatives to create the SCO Investment Fund and a base of economic preferences. UN Secretary General António Guterres will take part in the upcoming SCO summit.
The SCO was created in 2011 (it was preceded by the Shanghai Five in 1996 – Editor’s note). Over the years of its existence, the organization has gradually become multidisciplinary and multifunctional, where political, economic and humanitarian aspects of interaction are equally prioritized.
Currently, the population of the SCO region accounts for almost half of the world’s population, its space occupies about a quarter of the earth’s landmass, and its total GDP exceeds $23 trillion. At the same time, the number of participants is constantly expanding. According to experts, the world community’s interest in the organization has grown, including against the backdrop of a worsening international situation.Currently, 9 countries are members of the SCO: Kazakhstan, India, Iran, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan. However, this year Belarus will become a full member of the SCO at the organization’s upcoming summit.The SCO is engaged in ensuring diverse cooperation between member states in a wide range of areas: regional security, combating current threats, economic development, promoting relations of good neighborliness and mutual trust.
Leaders of observer countries and dialogue partners are expected to participate in the forum. Last year, five states joined the SCO as dialogue partners, including Bahrain, Kuwait, the Maldives, Myanmar and the United Arab Emirates.
A variety of countries are showing interest in partnership with the SCO, from Saudi Arabia to Macedonia and Serbia. The organization is a convenient platform for dialogue and attracts with its stability, commitment to the principles of international law, creative and non-bloc character, according to the Kazakh government.
