Laos receives partner status in SCO

A meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO CFM) member states was held in Tianjin, China. According to the website of the Russian Foreign Ministry, the meeting served as a key stage in preparing for the SCO summit and the SCO Plus meeting, both scheduled to take place at the same venue in late August–early September.

In the first half of the day, Chinese President Xi Jinping received the heads of delegations in Beijing. The Chinese leader emphasised that in the 24 years since its founding, the SCO has established itself as a mature and viable organisation contributing to regional security and sustainable development.

The CFM was attended by the foreign ministers of Belarus, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, as well as SCO Secretary-General Nurlan Yermekbayev.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that new countries continue to express interest in joining the organisation, confirming the demand for and authority of the SCO in global affairs.

"Today a decision was made to grant the status of partner of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation to the Lao People’s Democratic Republic"

Sergey Lavrov Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia

On behalf of his colleagues, Lavrov thanked the President of China for his attention and noted that the discussion confirmed a shared understanding of the growing importance of the collective potential of SCO members in both regional and global affairs.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi expressed during the meeting that the SCO should become a model of a responsible, just, and collective approach to ensuring regional stability.

"The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, with its vast geopolitical, economic, and humanitarian potential, can and, without doubt, should play a central role in countering emerging threats, including terrorism," he said.

Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, in his speech, highlighted India’s priorities within the SCO. This was reported by ANI, a partner of TV BRICS.

"India has taken several initiatives in the SCO in domains ranging from startup and innovation to traditional medicine and digital public infrastructure. We will continue to positively approach new ideas and proposals that are genuinely for our collective good," he said.

He stressed the importance of deepening economic cooperation and connectivity, including the advancement of the North–South International Transport Corridor.

During the event, key areas for the further development of the organisation were discussed. Particular attention was paid to the content of the Tianjin Declaration and the SCO Development Strategy to 2035, both of which are expected to be adopted at the summit.

Photo: IRNA