BySaniya Sakenova, Aida HaidarinInternationalon4 July 2024. ASTANA SecretaryGeneral of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization SCO Zhang Ming congratulated President KassymJomart Tokayev on the successful summit and Kazakhstan s presidency during a media briefing on July 4 on the sidelines of theSCO Summit. SecretaryGeneral of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization SCO Zhang Ming. Photo credit: sectsco.org. He praised the Kazakh chairmanship for its substantive and meaningful work. He noted that the Astana summit injected new impetus into the SCO s activities and marked a significant chapter in the organization s history. Since assuming the rotating presidency in July 2023, Kazakhstan has organized nearly 150 events in various fields, with a special emphasis on economy, investment, transportation, culture, humanities, and environmental protection, he said. Zhang Ming noted that the summit addressed critical areas of the organization, particularly energy, peopletopeople exchanges, and combating terrorism, separatism, and extremism. Entering its third decade, the SCO has evolved into a robust platform for enhancing mutual trust and cooperation, expanding multilateral dialogue, and deepening mutually beneficial partnerships. According to him, as an authoritative multilateral organization in the contemporary international relations system, the SCO is pivotal in maintaining stability amid the current complex geopolitical landscape. He underlined the importance of intensifying practical cooperation across various fields to ensure the sustained development and prosperity of the SCO region, adhering to the purposes and objectives of the SCO charter, and upholding the principles of the Shanghai Spirit. He said, A significant outcome was completing the procedure for Belarus to join the SCO as a full member state. . Zhang Ming said that the year 2024 was declared the SCO Year of Environment, and China acknowledged the prompt actions of the Kazakh presidency in forming common positions on key issues, including the escalation of the PalestinianIsraeli conflict and terrorist attacks in some SCO member states. He said that China s chairmanship this year marks the fifth time the country has assumed the rotating presidency of the SCO. The Astana Declaration and 25 resolutions on political, security, economic, and peopletopeople cooperation wereadoptedduring the SCO Summit in Astana. These included the approval of the SCO Initiative On World Unity for Just Peace, Harmony, and Development, the resolution declaring Qingdao, China, as the SCO capital of tourism and culture for 20242025, and three statements on the principles of good neighborliness, trust, and partnership. Zhang Ming served as the SCO Chair from 2022 until July 4, 2024. His tenure concluded at the SCO Summit in Astana, where he was succeeded by Nurlan Yermekbayev. Get The Astana Times stories sent directly to you! Sign up via the website or subscribe to ourTwitter,Facebook,Instagram,Telegram,YouTubeandTiktok!
SCO Secretary-General Zhang Ming congratulated President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on Kazakhstan's successful presidency and the recent SCO Summit. He praised Kazakhstan's work during its chairmanship, highlighting achievements in various fields like economy, investment, and combating terrorism. Key outcomes included Belarus joining as a full member and declaring 2024 as the SCO Year of Environment. The summit adopted declarations focusing on political, security, economic, and people-to-people cooperation. China's upcoming chairmanship aims to continue strengthening cooperation within the SCO.