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C H R O N O L O G Y
1996April 26 - Heads of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, China, Russia and Tajikistan at the summit talks in Shanghai signed the Agreement on deepening military trust in border regions. This meeting was later named as the first summit meeting of "Shanghai five" as predecessor of Shanghai cooperation organization.
1997
April 24 - Heads of "Shanghai five� states held in Moscow the second summit, where they signed the Agreement on mutual reduction of military forces in border regions.
1998
July 3 - The third Summit of �Shanghai five� took place in Alma-Ata. Instead of Russian President B.Yeltsin, who did not arrive due to illness, Russian Foreign Minister Y.Primakov attended the summit. At the meeting matters of security and regional cooperation were discussed and the �Almaty joint statement� was signed.
1999
August 24 � 26 - The fourth Summit of �Shanghai five� took place in Bishkek. Sides exchanged opinions on matters of regional security, regional cooperation and international situation, as well as signed the �Bishkek declaration�.
November - Heads of law-enforcement bodies and security services of the �Shanghai five� states held the first meeting (the first Bishkek group meeting) in Bishkek.
2000
March - The first meeting of Ministers of Defense of �Shanghai five� states was held in Astana. Ministers of Defense of five states discussed matters of regional situations and mutual military contacts, adopted joint communiqu�.
July 4 - The first meeting of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of �Shanghai five� states took place in Dushanbe. At the meeting final preparation to Dushanbe summit of "Shanghai five� was carried out, official start of the mechanism of meetings of �Shanghai five �Ministers of Foreign Affairs was declared, joint communiqu� was adopted.
July 5 - The fifth meeting of Heads of �Shanghai five� states took place in Dushanbe. At the meeting President of Uzbekistan I. Karimov participated as an observer for the first time. Sides exchanged opinions on matters of multilateral cooperation, important regional and international problems of common interest. The Dushanbe declaration was signed.
2001
April 28 - Ministers of Foreign Affairs of �Shanghai five� states held in Moscow the second meeting, where deep and thorough exchange of opinions on preparation of the Shanghai summit, and on a current international and regional situation took place. Joint communiqu� and joint statement for press were also signed.
June 14, 15 - The first meeting of Heads of member-states of Shanghai cooperation organization took place in Shanghai. Heads of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Republic of Kyrgyzstan, the People�s Republic of China, the Russian Federation, the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Republic of Tajikistan signed the Declaration on establishment of Shanghai Cooperation organization, the Shanghai convention on fighting terrorism, separatism and extremism and the Joint statement on joining Uzbekistan to the �Shanghai five� mechanism. On summit results information message was published. At this meeting the Establishment of Shanghai Cooperation organization was formally declared. Within the summit framework Ministers of Foreign Affairs signed temporary provisions on the order of activity of the Council of National coordinators of SCO member states. Ministers of Defense held a meeting and published the Joint communiqu�.
September 13, 14 - The first meeting of Heads of governments of SCO member-states took place in Alma-Ata. Head of governments of six states discussed matters of regional trade and economic cooperation, SCO development and other issues, signed the Memorandum among the governments of the SCO participant states on the basic goals and directions of regional economic cooperation and launching process on creation of favorable conditions in the sphere of trade and investments, published an information report on results of the first meeting of Heads of the governments of SCO member-states. In connection with events of September 11, Heads of the governments of six states also published a statement with condemnation of this act of terrorism, expressing determination together with the world community to conduct uncompromising struggle against terrorism.
October 10, 11 - Shanghai Cooperation Organization held �Bishkek group� extraordinary meeting in Bishkek. Parties carried out consultations on problems of current situation in Afghanistan and Central Asian region, strengthening struggle against "three evils", and also published the Joint statement.
2002
January 7 - The extraordinary meeting of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the SCO member-states took place in Beijing. Ministers of Foreign Affairs of six states conducted profound exchange of opinions on actual matters of situation in Afghanistan, international struggle against terrorism, struggle against "three evils" in the region, increasing the role of Shanghai Cooperation organization, and achieved broad mutual understanding. Parties signed the Joint statement, stating there the common platform and fundamental positions of six states, ratified principles of mechanism of operative reaction of Shanghai Cooperation organization.
April 11, 12 - The first meeting of SCO Ministers of culture of member-states took place in Beijing. At the meeting Ministers of culture signed the Joint statement, which then was published in press.
April 26 - The regular meeting of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of six SCO member states took place in Moscow. Parties made important preparation for the St. Petersburg summit, help profound exchange of opinions on important and actual problems of current international and regional situation, matters of strengthening SCO construction and cooperation under its framework. Parties reached broad mutual understanding. At the end of the meeting Ministers of six states published an information report and held a joint press conference.
April 29, 30 - The meeting of Heads of departments on extreme situations and liquidations of consequences of elemental acts of SCO member states took place in St. Petersburg. Parties discussed concrete measures of SCO member states on expansion multilateral cooperation in the sphere of liquidation of consequences of elemental acts and positions on matter of providing emergency humanitarian aid; approved the Russian side initiative on necessity of signing the agreement on providing the mutual aid during extreme situations; instructed experts to develop the draft of such agreement in the shortest possible time; agreed upon carrying out the regular consultations at a level of persons in charge and experts of corresponding departments of SCO member states.
May 15 - The meeting of Ministers of Defense of SCO member states took place in Shanghai. Parties discussed matters of strengthening cooperation of six states in military sphere, agreed to support and improve the mechanism of regular meetings of Ministers of Defense and representatives of Joint Staffs of six states.
May 23 - The regular meeting of Heads of law-enforcement bodies and special services of SCO member states took place in Astana, capital of Kazakhstan. At this meeting the Decision on draft agreement among SCO member states on establishment of Regional antiterrorist structure was signed; the draft of the Agreement was adopted and it was recommended to accelerate on its basis elaboration of other corresponding documents in order to launch the antiterrorist structure in maximum compact time.
May 28, 29 - The first meeting of Ministers of Economy and Trade of SCO member states took place in Shanghai. Parties held profound exchange of opinions on matters of regional economic cooperation of six states and establishment of the mechanism of meetings of Ministers of Economy and Trade and reached mutual understanding. They have officially launched the mechanism of holding meetings of Ministers of Economy and Trade and creating favorable conditions in the sphere of trade and investments. On meeting�s results the protocol to the Memorandum among governments of SCO participant states on the basic goals and directions of regional economic cooperation and launching process of creating favorable conditions in the sphere of trade and investments and joint statement was signed on results of the first meeting of the Ministers, responsible for external economic and foreign trade activity was published.
June 7 - The second meeting of Heads of SCO member-states took place in St. Petersburg. Parties signed the Charter of Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the Agreement on Regional antiterrorist structure and the Declaration of Heads of SCO member-states.
September 11 - The statement of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of SCO member-states was published, where views of six states on current situation in the sphere of struggle against terrorism and their active approach to struggle against "three evils" and participation in the international antiterrorist cooperation were expressed.
Beginning of October - Within the framework of Shanghai Cooperation Organization China and Kyrgyzstan held joint antiterrorist excurse in the region of Chinese-Kirghiz border.
October 30 - The meeting of General public prosecutors of SCO member-states took place in Shanghai. Parties discussed effective ways of further expansion and deepening of cooperation of six states in the sphere of security and exchanged opinions on matters of cooperation in legal sphere, representing mutual interest.
November 20 - The first meeting of Ministers of transport of SCO member states took place in Bishkek. Parties discussed matters of cooperation in the field of development of transportation in the SCO framework, defined main directions of interstate cooperation in the interests of removing obstacles in transportation, establishing and perfecting international transport corridor, all-round development of transboundary transportation. At the meeting decisions on official launching the mechanism of regular meetings of Ministers of transport of SCO member states and on conducting the next meeting in Russia were adopted. The Joint statement was published.
October 23 - The meeting of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of SCO member-states took place in Moscow. At the meeting recommendation of the Council of National Coordinators for further institutionalization of works of the Organization was approved, provisional scheme of mutual relations between Shanghai Cooperation Organization and other international organizations and states was signed.
2003
January 20 � 23 - The Meeting of the Council of National Coordinators of SCO member states took place in Astana. Parties discussed matters of SCO institutional constructions, the budget of organization and assessable contributions of member states, plans of the official high level measures for this year. They reached full mutual understanding on these matters and signed the meeting�s Protocol.
February 28 � March 3 - The meeting of the Council of National Coordinators of SCO member states took place in Beijing. Primary attention was paid to the important matters of conducting official high level events within SCO framework, spadework on establishment of the Secretariat and Regional antiterrorist structure and matters of the organization�s budget. Participants also held preliminary consultations on the draft of regulations on SCO structures.
March 26 � 28 - The meeting of the Council of National Coordinators of SCO member states took place in Cholpon-Ota (Kyrgyzstan). Primary attention was paid to discussion of matters of organizing this year high level events within SCO framework, establishing permanent bodies, the budget of the Organization and distribution of dues, and also external relations and other matters.
April 26 � 28 - The Meeting of the Council of National Coordinators of SCO member states took place in Alma-Ata. At the meeting, mainly, the spadework to Moscow summit at the end of May 2003 and to the meeting of the Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs at the end of April was conducted, and also the exchange of opinions on matters of institutional constructions and matters of SCO financial-budgetary mechanisms took place.
April 29 - The meeting of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of SCO member states took place in Alma-Ata. At the meeting profound exchange of opinions on institutional construction of the Organization, matters of security and regional cooperation in economic and other spheres, external relations, as well as other international and regional problems of mutual interest took place. As a result of the meeting, ministers of six states signed a number of decisions, approved a number of legal documents regulating mechanisms of various meetings within SCO framework, activity of permanent bodies and financial-budgetary aspects of the Organization, drafts of the emblem and the flag, and also designated a nominee of the Executive secretary and decided to ratify it at the meeting of highest level in Moscow in May this year. As a result of the meeting the information report was published.
May 26, 27 - The Meeting of the Council of National Coordinators of SCO member states took place in Moscow. Participants ratified political documents of Moscow summit for signing by Heads of member states and determined primary goals of the Council of National Coordinators in the second half of the year.
May 28, 29 - The third meeting of Heads of SCO member states took place in Moscow. Heads of six member states approved and signed the Agreement on order of formation and administration of SCO budget, Regulations about the Council of Heads of SCO member states, Regulations about the Council of Heads of the governments (Prime Ministers) of SCO member states, Regulations about the Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of SCO member states, Regulations on the Council of National Coordinators of SCO member states, Regulations on meetings of Heads of the Ministries and/or departments of SCO member states, Regulations on the SCO Secretariat, Regulation of Executive committee of the SCO Regional Antiterrorist structure and Regulations on permanent representatives of SCO member-states at the SCO Secretariat, ratified the nominee of the Executive secretary (ambassador Zhang Deguan) and SCO symbols. The Declaration of Heads of SCO member states was also signed and published.
June 25 � 27 - The regular meeting of the Council of National Coordinators of SCO member states took place in Dushanbe. Its main tasks were to realize the spirit of the Moscow summit, to work over the major actions of SCO for the second half of the year, to prepare establishment of permanent bodies of SCO, the budget of the Organization for the next year and other important questions. An essential progress was achieved during the meeting.
July 29 � 31 - The regular meeting of the Council of National Coordinators of SCO member states took place in Alma-Ata. Meeting mainly conducted spadework to the second meeting of Heads of governments of SCO member states and extraordinary meeting of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of six states. It also continued discussions on important matters with regard to the launch of SCO permanent bodies.
August 8 � 12 - Five SCO member states � Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, China, Russia and Tajikistan conducted joint antiterrorist exercises.
September 1, 2 - The second OSCE meeting on prevention of and struggle against acts of terrorism took place in Lisbon, capital of Portugal, in which representatives of eight international organizations and ten states took part. The ambassador of China in Portugal Ma Enhan, speaking on behalf of SCO, informed participants about a principled position and concrete actions of SCO on matters of struggle against terrorism.
September 3, 4 - The regular meeting of the Council of National Coordinators of SCO member states took place in Tashkent. Its major goals were to prepare and hold a meeting of Heads of the Governments and an extraordinary meeting of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of six states, as well as discussing matters related to the start of SCO permanent bodies.
September 3, 4 - The meeting of general public prosecutors of SCO member states took place in Bishkek. Matters of mutual legal aid among SCO member states in the field of struggle against "three evils", illegal circulation of weapons and drugs and other dangerous crimes, creation of the mechanism of direct contacts and exchanges of the information in the sphere of struggle against transnational criminality and establishment of preparatory and probation centers for inspectors and workers of the offices of Public Prosecutors were discussed. The agreement on holding the next meeting of general public prosecutors of SCO member states in 2004 in Alma-Ata was reached.
September 5 - The extraordinary meeting of the Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of SCO member states took place in Tashkent. Parties discussed questions of SCO institutional constructions, preparations for forthcoming meeting of Heads of the governments of six states of SCO, as well as the international and regional problems. They signed Protocols on modification of SCO Charter, the Shanghai convention on struggle against terrorism, separatism and extremism, the Agreement on SCO Regional antiterrorist structure, and published the Joint communiqu�.
September 5, 6 - The second meeting of Ministers of Economy and trade of SCO member states took place in Kyrgyzstan. Parties held profound and thorough exchange of opinions on matters of promoting regional economic cooperation within SCO frameworks, preparations for forthcoming second meeting of Heads of governments of six states. They adopted the Program of multilateral trade and economic cooperation of SCO member states, and suggested to submit it for ratification at the second meeting of Heads of governments.
September 10 - The meeting of Ministers of transport of SCO member states took place in St. Petersburg. Participants of the meeting studied questions of concluding multilateral agreement on auto transport, joining of SCO member states to the European highway transport agreement, as well as of further improving and developing auto transportation highways among SCO member states.
September 19 - The Shanghai Cooperation Organization�s Charter came into force.
September 20 � 22 - The meeting of Council of National Coordinators of SCO member states took place in Beijing. Its primary goals were conducting final preparation of a meeting of Heads of governments, planned for September 23, and further discussing matters of establishing SCO permanent bodies.
September 23 - The meeting of Council of Heads of Governments (Prime Ministers) of SCO member states took place in Beijing. Parties discussed matters of deepening regional economic cooperation and accelerating the construction of SCO permanent bodies, signed the Memorandum on technical start of SCO permanent bodies, ratified the Program of multilateral trade and economic cooperation of SCO member states, SCO budget for 2004 and the Regulations on the monetary maintenance, guarantees and indemnifications for staff members of SCO permanent bodies, adopted the decision on structure and list of staff of the Executive committee of SCO Regional antiterrorist structure, signed and published the Joint communiqu�. At the meeting Heads of Governments were received by Hu Jintao, Chairman of the People�s Republic of China.
October 27 � 29 - The meeting of the Council of National Coordinators of SCO member states took place in Tashkent. At the meeting order of staff list of SCO Secretariat and SCO RATS Executive committee were determined, preparation for forthcoming first meeting of the RATS Council was carried out.
October 31 - The first meeting of the SCO RATS Council took place in Tashkent. Meeting elected representative of Uzbekistan as the first Chairman of the SCO RATS Council and ratified nomination of Kasymov, the deputy chief of security service of Uzbekistan as a director of the SCO RATS Executive council. It also ratified drafts of Rules of procedure and of the list of staff of the RATS Council. The exchange of opinions on matters of strengthening the antiterrorist structures, developing cooperation and adopting the Plan of measures in this sphere for 2004-2005 years took place.
December 9, 10 - The meeting of the Council of National Coordinators of SCO member states took place in Dushanbe. Participants ratified the typical contract with the staff member of SCO permanent body and personnel assignments in the SCO Secretariat.
2004
January 12, 13 - The meeting of the Council of National Coordinators of SCO member states took place in Beijing. At the meeting the preparation for an extraordinary meeting of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of SCO member states, planned for January 15, and procedure of inauguration of the Secretariat were finalized; discussion was held on date of holding the Tashkent summit in June this year, as well as the study of documents took place with regard to external relations of SCO, legal, financial matters and regional struggle against terrorism.
January 15 - The extraordinary meeting of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of SCO member states took place in Beijing. At the meeting matters of SCO activity for the period after the Moscow summit, preparation of June summit in Tashkent, international and regional situation were discussed. Ministers of six states signed the decision on approval of nominees to the posts of SCO Deputy Executive Secretaries and on submitting the nominee of director of SCO RATS Executive Committee to the approval by the Council of Heads of SCO states, published press-communiqu�. Executive Secretary Zhang Deguan and director of RATS Executive committee Kasymov took part in the meeting. Hu Jintao, Chairman of the People�s Republic of China received Ministers of Foreign Affairs of SCO member states and heads of two permanent bodies of this Organization. The protocol meeting of ministers of six states with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Mongolia took place.
January 15 - Official inauguration ceremony of the SCO Secretariat took place. The ceremony was attended by member of PRC State Council Tan Ziasuayan, Ministers of Foreign Affairs and National Coordinators of six member states, representatives of the United Nations, EU, OSCE, CIS and other international organizations, members of a diplomatic missions in Beijing, heads of Chinese services.
March 16 � 17 - The meeting of the Council of National Coordinators of SCO member states took place in the Secretariat. Participants discussed a state of affairs with preparation for the Moscow meeting of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of SCO member states and the Tashkent summit, considered drafts of corresponding documents. Executive secretary Zhang Deguan delivered a report, in which he informed participants on Secretariat activities and expressed views regarding this year�s Organization performance.
April 21, 22 - The regular meeting of the Council of National Coordinators of SCO member states took place in Moscow. At the meeting mainly the preparation for Moscow meeting of the Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of SCO member states was carried out, matters, related to holding the Tashkent summit were discussed, Convention on privileges and immunities of SCO, proposal of the SCO Secretariat on establishment of the SCO Day and other documents were adopted.
April 23 - The meeting of the Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of SCO member states took place in Moscow. Ministers ratified the Tashkent summit Agenda and corresponding documents. They also exchanged views on international and regional situation. The press-communiqu� was signed and published
June 17 - the Council of Heads of six member-states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization was held in Tashkent, capital of Uzbekistan. It was the first summit after the end of the initial stage of SCO establishment, and it was of great importance in terms of determining plans and directions of Organization�s works at a new stage. The basic themes of the summit were "concreteness" and "openness".
During the summit, heads of six states summed up the results of Organization�s activity in various directions, unfolded at last years Moscow summit, and worked out a number of important and concrete directives for its further work, especially emphasizing, that along with Organization�s transition into a new stage of development, it was necessary to gradually shift the basic emphasis in work to comprehensive practical cooperation, and achieve in every possible way and as soon as possible concrete results in developing cooperation in matters of security, trade and economy, humanitarian and other spheres, in the interests of well-being of peoples of six states. Besides, it is necessary to continue to broaden exchanges and cooperation with other states and international organizations, in order to participate even more actively and more constructively in promoting peace and development in the region and the world in general.
The heads of six states signed and adopted Regulations on the observer status of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, Agreement among member-states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization on combating the trafficking of illegal narcotics and psychotropic substances, Convention on privileges and immunities of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, resolution on establishing June 15 as �SCO day� and also a political document of the summit - the Tashkent Declaration. During the summit, Report on cooperation and coordination of activity among the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of SCO member-states, and Agreements on conditions of stay between the People�s Republic of China, the Republic Uzbekistan and permanent bodies of Shanghai Cooperation organization in host countries were being signed.
On the eve of the summit, official ceremony of establishment of SCO Regional antiterrorist structure in Tashkent has taken place, in which heads of all six states and representatives of the UN, EU, OSCE, independent associations and others international organizations took part. Thus, both permanent bodies of the SCO have already completely started normal activity.
Besides the heads of six member-states, the president of a transitional government of Afghanistan H. Karzai and Mongolian External Relations Minister Luvsangiin Erdenechuluun (as a special envoy of Mongolian president) participated in the summit. Afghanistan and Mongolia are both friendly adjacent states for the SCO member-states, and the invitation of heads of these two states shows good-neighbourhood, friendly policy of SCO, as well as displays to the international community SCO active position in terms of openness to new external relations and cooperation. At the summit heads of six states considered and approved Mongolia�s request to be given the status of an observer of SCO. Thus, Mongolia has officially become the first SCO observer.
According to the unity achieved at the meeting, from the moment of the end of Tashkent summit Kazakhstan took over from Uzbekistan the presiding function in the Organization for a new term, and also accepted the responsibility for holding the Organization�s next year summit.
On September 23, 2004 the regular meeting of Council of Heads of governments (Prime-Ministers) of SCO member-states took place in Bishkek.
SCO Secretary-General Zhang Deguan took part in this meeting.
In the context of this meeting the President of Kyrgyz Republic A.Akayev received heads of governments of SCO member-states.
In constructive and friendly atmosphere wide range of issues were considered on further developing and deepening cooperation within the SCO frameworks in trade-economy, investment, transport, environment, humanitarian and other spheres, in light of realization of agreements, achieved in meeting of Council of Heads of SCO member-states in Tashkent on June 17, 2004.
Heads of Governments accepted Plan of measures on realization of the Program of multilateral trade-economic cooperation of SCO member-states, approved on Council meeting on September 23, 2003 in Beijing. Comprehending most important areas of economic, scientific-technical and humanitarian interaction, the Plan involves more than 100 concrete projects, themes and directions of cooperation, envisages mechanisms and their realization in connection with the phased principle.
Number of main issues, in connection with financial maintenance of Organization activity were considered. Main parameters of SCO budget for 2005 were approved.
During the meeting an official presentation of web-site took place, utilization of which is due to promote for further development of regional economic cooperation. Heads of Governments agreed, that next meeting of Council of Heads of Governments (Prime-Ministers) of SCO member-states will take place in second half of 2005 in Moscow.
2005
A summit of heads of member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation /SCO/ took place on July 05 in Astana. President of the Republic of Kazakhstan N.Nazarbaev, president of the People�s Republic of China Hu Jintao, acting president of the Kyrgyz Republic K.Bakiev, president of the Russian Federation V.Putin, president of the Republic of Tajikistan E.Rakhmonov and president of the Republic of Uzbekistan I.Karimov took part in the summit. The summit was also attended by president of Mongolia Nambaryn Enhbayar, first vice president of Iran Mohammad Reza Aref, prime minister of Pakistan Shaukat Aziz, minister of foreign affairs of India Natvar Singh and SCO secretary-general Zhang Deguang. Based on its results, the SCO summit issued a declaration of the heads of the member states of the Organisation.
September 14-16, 2005 at the invitation of United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan a delegation of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, headed by Secretary-General Zhang Deguang, attended as observer the High-level Plenary Meeting of the 60th session of the United Nations General Assembly.
In the course of the High-level Plenary Meeting SCO Secretary-General Zhang Deguang was given the opportunity to deliver the following speech:
Mister President!
Mister Secretary-General!
Thank you for the opportunity to deliver my speech. It is the first time that a representative of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation has mounted this majestic rostrum of the United Nations. Allow me on behalf of all the member states and observer states of the SCO to extend our warmest congratulations on the sixtieth anniversary of the establishment of the United Nations Organisation and the active achievements, made during this session of the General Assembly!
Since the moment of its creation, the UN has been working to fulfill mankind�s most cherished dream - that the tragedy of war should never be repeated and that the sun of peace could always shine in the human world. On numerous occasions in the past this grand assembly hall was the scene of strong appeals and genuine calls for peace, issued by many countries, and witnessed great efforts and outstanding contributions, made by the UN to the cause of safeguarding peace.
Tremendous changes have taken place in today�s world; mankind has left behind the era of war and peace and entered a new era of peace and development. Nevertheless, the UN continues to play an irreplaceable role in modern international affairs; basic principles, enshrined in the UN Charter, remain an indisputable cornerstone of modern international relations; protecting the central role and high authority of the UN remains a common responsibility and common task of the international community.
It goes without saying that the UN also needs to carry out rational and necessary reforms in order to respond more effectively to new situations, new challenges and threats, emerging in the globalisation age, and to deal more actively with an enormous and difficult task of boosting peace and development in the world. While reforming the UN, one must observe principles of broader consensus, not set a timetable for the sake of the reform, as well as not impose any voting on drafts, which still remain a source of major controversy.
Mr. President,
Compared to the eventful sixty-year history of the UN, the SCO history has just begun. Four years ago in the city of Shanghai leaders of Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan announced the birth of this new organisation of regional cooperation. The SCO makes efforts to strengthen good-neighborly relations, mutual trust and friendship between its member states; contributes to effective cooperation between its member states on economy, trade, transport, energy, tourism, environmental protection and humanitarian affairs; combats forces of terrorism, separatism and extremism; protects peace, security and stability in the region; promotes the creation of democratic, just and rational international political and economic order. Internally, the SCO is guided by the Spirit of Shanghai, based upon "mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, mutual consultations, respect for diversity of cultures and aspiration for joint development"; externally, the SCO observes principles of non-alignment, non-direction against other states and regions, as well as outside openness.
Within a short period of several years the SCO has basically completed its work on mechanism building and achieved noticeable progress in launching practical cooperation in various fields and establishing external ties. A recent summit in Astana outlined strategic plans, aimed at further development of the SCO, and, following the admission of Mongolia to the SCO as observer state, accepted Pakistan, Iran and India as new observers. We are pleased to note that main goals and principles of the SCO have been receiving much broader recognition and that the SCO is now heading towards its five-year anniversary with confidence and determination.
In December of last year, the SCO was given observer status at the UN General Assembly, which signaled a good start in establishing our cooperation with the UN. The SCO has already established close contacts and become engaged in active cooperation with the UNESCAP, UNDP and other UN-led agencies, as well as signed memoranda of understanding with the ASEAN and CIS. We are ready and hope to establish such cooperative ties with a greater number of other international organisations in order to make a joint contribution to the cause of peace and development in the region and in the whole world.
Mr. President,
The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation has a population of nearly 1.5 billion and covers 3/5 of the Eurasian continent. We are deeply conscious of our responsibility and we are ready to carry out this historic mission with honor.
Thank you for your attention!
On October 26, 2005 a regular meeting of the Council of heads of government /prime ministers/ of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation member states took place in Moscow /Russia/. Based on the results of its meeting, the Council issued a Joint Communique. Posted below is its full version:
The meeting of the Council of heads of government /prime ministers/ of SCO member states was attended by prime minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan D.Akhmetov, premier of the State Council of the People�s Republic of China Wen Jiabao, prime minister of the Kyrgyz Republic F.Kulov, head of the Government of the Russian Federation M.Fradkov, prime minister of the Republic of Tajikistan A.Akilov and vice prime minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan U.Sultanov.
For the first time representatives from observer states in the SCO, including minister of foreign affairs of the Republic of India N.Singh, first vice president of the Islamic Republic of Iran P.Davudi, prime minister of Mongolia T.Elbegdorzh and prime minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan S.Aziz, took part in this kind of event.
SCO secretary-general Zhang Deguang and director of the Executive Committee of SCO Regional Antiterrorist Structure V.Kasymov were also present at the meeting.
President of the Russian Federation V.Putin received the heads of delegations, participating in the meeting of the Council of SCO prime ministers.
In a constructive and businesslike atmosphere the Council considered a wide range of issues, surrounding further development and deepening of regional cooperation in the areas of maintaining stability, economy and trade, science and technology, culture and humanitarian affairs, as well as in other spheres, in accordance with the tasks, set by the Council of heads of state of SCO member states at 05 July meeting in Astana.
It was stated that a year on since the previous meeting, interaction in the SCO framework had developed a new dynamics, the SCO�s international authority had become much stronger, the international community had been showing much greater interest in the Organisation. Concrete measures had been outlined to help execute the Programme of multilateral trade and economic cooperation between SCO member states.
The Council agreed to step up the development of cooperation on economy and trade, as well as the improvement of investment climate, based upon principles of mutual benefit and equal rights. The Action Plan on execution of the Programme of multilateral trade and economic cooperation between SCO member states, adopted by the heads of government, will become an important part of an effort to fulfill the tasks, set in this field. It was deemed necessary that respective ministries and departments of SCO member states should get down to practical realisation of the Action Plan, taking into consideration the proposals on pilot projects in the areas of energy, transport, telecommunications, science, technology and agriculture, as well as on further expansion of legal and regulatory framework of cooperation between SCO member states. These proposals were put forward by the heads of ministries, responsible for external trade and economic activity, and respective working groups at this year�s 19 February meeting in Bishkek. The Commission of senior officials and SCO Secretariat were charged with coordinating this work and reporting its results during the next meeting of the Council of heads of government /prime ministers/ of SCO member states in 2006.
The heads of government stressed the importance and urgency of establishing cooperation on exploration of oil and gas deposits, construction of oil and gas pipelines, as well as the need to conduct interaction in the field of high information and telecommunication technology. The Council of heads of ministries, responsible for external trade and economic activity, as well as the concerned ministries and departments of the member states and SCO Secretariat were charged with establishing at the earliest possible expert working groups on issues of fuel and energy, modern information and telecommunication technology.
The Council noted the considerable progress being made on customs cooperation. It recognised the expediency of speeding up the process of finalising and signing the draft Agreement between SCO member states on cooperation and mutual assistance in the area of customs by the next meeting.
The heads of government expressed satisfaction with the results of the first meeting of the Board of members of SCO Business Council and the signing of the Agreement on interbank cooperation /association/ in the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, and underlined the need of more active involvement by the business and financial circles of SCO member states in the realisation of large joint investment projects in the Central Asia region.
Special attention was focused on stepping up the activity on the creation of favorable conditions for trade and investment. The heads of government support the idea of holding in 2006 a forum of manufacturers and entrepreneurs, as well as a trade and industry fair on occasion of the SCO�s fifth anniversary.
The heads of government recognised the expediency of speeding up the process of agreeing on a formation order and functioning principles of SCO Development Fund for this work to be completed not later than by the first half of 2006.
The Council also considers timely and useful the organisation in Xian /China/, in November 2005 of the Eurasian Economic Forum under the auspices of SCO Secretariat, UNESCAP and China Development Bank.
The heads of government confirmed the importance of continuing the dialogue on developing cooperation in the area of transport, of stepping up the role and increasing the efficiency of the mechanism of meetings of SCO transport ministers, as well as of formulating a coordinated policy on transit transportation and the creation of international transport corridors. They emphasised the need to accelerate work on the agreeing and signing of the Intergovernmental Agreement on road transportation facilitation. To that end, the ministries and departments, involved in the preparation of the draft Agreement, and SCO Secretariat were charged with intensifying the process of negotiations.
It was agreed that the mechanism of meetings of heads of ministries, responsible for external trade and economic activity, and SCO Secretariat would play a coordinating role in defining concrete measures, aimed at realisation of joint investment projects in the framework of an export credit, offered by China.
The heads of government expressed confidence that the first meeting of ministers, responsible for environmental protection, would lay good foundations for interaction in this area of vital importance.
The heads of government advocate further consolidation of cooperation between SCO member states in cultural and humanitarian areas. In this connection, they stressed the positive meaning of the meeting of SCO culture ministers and the first six-state cultural festival, both held in the Republic of Kazakhstan, in July 2005. The decision by the culture ministers to establish an expert working group on issues of cultural interaction between SCO member states provides a solid foundation for execution of the 2005-06 Plan of multilateral cultural cooperation between SCO member states and for active work within the SCO framework on exploiting each member state�s rich and unique cultural potential, particularly, in the light of next year�s fifth anniversary, marking the establishment of the SCO.
The Council considers timely the start of interaction in the sphere of education and recognises the expediency of holding in the first half of 2006 a meeting of SCO education ministers, as well as of signing an Agreement between governments of SCO member states on cooperation in the sphere of education.
The heads of government welcomed the signing of the Agreement between the governments of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation member states on interaction in providing mutual assistance in emergency situations, and expressed confidence that interaction in this field, which had the most vital meaning for the member states and the whole region, would be widely implemented.
The Council considered a set of issues, dealing with financial maintenance of the Organisation�s activity, and approved its budget for the year 2006.
It was agreed that the next meeting of the Council of heads of government /prime ministers/ of SCO member states would take place in Dushanbe in the second half of 2006.