Courtesy of the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Korea

By Azamat Seitov

Since its establishment, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) has become a full-fledged regional organization, having established practical cooperation in the fights against terrorism, extremism, separatism, drug trafficking and others. One of the important tools of the organization is the successful work in the city of Tashkent of the SCO's Executive Committee of the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS).

At the same time, the activities of the SCO are not limited to work in the sphere of security; its range is wider. The main founding documents of the organization, such as the Shanghai Declaration and the Charter, define it as a structure aimed at strengthening cooperation in the political, economic, cultural, humanitarian and other fields. These documents show that the founding states of the SCO saw it as a new type of regional organization with a new type of universal agenda.

The SCO's universality is captured by the deep essence of the Shanghai Spirit concept, which includes such principles as mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, mutual consultation, respect for cultural diversity and striving for common development. Consequently, despite the differing scales of the political, military and economic power of the member states of the organization, they are all equal. The implementation of this principle occurs in the adoption of all decisions within the framework of the SCO based on consensus. Consensus-based decision-making allows all members of the organization to participate actively in determining the priorities of its activities. The economic agenda is also being actively promoted within the framework of the SCO.

The key event in the life of the organization in recent years has undoubtedly been its expansion in 2017 at the expense of two large Asian countries, India and Pakistan. Now the SCO has become one of the major trans-regional organizations, the states of which collectively wield considerable power. For example, China, Russia, India and Pakistan have the status of being nuclear powers, while Russia and China are permanent members of the U.N. Security Council. Almost half of the world's population lives in SCO member countries, and member territories collectively occupy 60 percent of the territory of Eurasia. The total GDP of the SCO states is about 23 percent of the world GDP.

The fundamental changes and their consequences taking place in the world ― though difficult to predict against the backdrop of the lack of trust and mutual understanding at the global level ― pose new challenges and tasks for the SCO. Uzbekistan, as one of the founders of the SCO, is interested in the full disclosure of its potential by increasing practical interaction in those promising areas that meet the vital interests of all countries. Therefore, the development of relations with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization remains an important area of ??Uzbekistan's foreign policy.

For Uzbekistan, the SCO is an important multilateral platform, primarily in ensuring stability and broad cooperation in Central Asia, which continues to be the geographical axis of the SCO. A pronounced "regional emphasis" can also be seen in the importance of strengthening the SCO's attention to the Afghan problem in the context of the more active involvement of Afghanistan in the regional process.

Uzbekistan continues to chair the SCO successfully. The disruption of traditional cooperation and logistics chains, the aggravation of the food and energy security situation, the rapid growth of inflation and the deterioration of the socio-economic situation in most countries of the world increase the demand for effective coordination and close multilateral cooperation to respond adequately to these modern challenges to security and sustainable development.

It is no coincidence that various countries are showing an increased interest in the SCO and in establishing practical interaction with the organization. Today, applications from more than ten countries for participation in its work in one status or another are under consideration. All this shows that the SCO is one of the most powerful organizations in terms of its political, economic, scientific and intellectual potential.

During Uzbekistan's chairmanship of the SCO, more than 70 major events were successfully held, the coordination of 28 documents was completed, the adoption of which is envisaged following the Samarkand Summit. Among them are concepts and programs to stimulate intra-regional trade, industrial cooperation and transport connectivity. Joint projects and events in the green economy, innovations, digital technology, logistics, agriculture, medicine and other areas are also under development.

To date, all the leaders of the SCO member states have confirmed their participation in the work of the SCO summit, which will be held on Sept. 15 and 16 in Samarkand. The meeting will also be attended by leaders of the SCO observer countries and heads of partner organizations, such as the U.N., the CIS, the CSTO, the EAEU and others. It is expected that Iran will become a member of the SCO at the summit in Samarkand and that a Memorandum of Commitment about Iran as a member of the SCO will be signed. Belarus has also applied for membership in the SCO, and during the September summit, the procedure for its admission to the organization will be launched.

The upcoming SCO summit in Samarkand will make it possible to discuss areas for further development such as maintaining the non-bloc status of the organization, strengthening the potential to counter new challenges and threats, maintaining the status of the geographical axis of the SCO in Central Asia, promoting cross-border connectivity projects and more actively involving Afghanistan in regional economic processes. All of these efforts show Uzbekistan's commitment to strengthening further friendship and good neighborliness, as well as full-scale cooperation in the SCO space in the interests of countries and peoples.


Azamat Seitov is the head of sector on the Executive Committee of the Political Council of the Movement of entrepreneurs and businessmen, in the Liberal Democratic Party of Uzbekistan.