A proactive and realistic foreign policy, pursued from the ground upr The leadership of Shavkat Mirziyoyev, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, will strengthen the country’s role and powers, both regionally and globally, and increase its influence in the international process.
Multilateral cooperation with international and regional organizations, in particular Uzbekistan’s participation in the activities of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, is of particular importance.
The transfer of the chairmanship of the Organization to Uzbekistan for 2021-2022 is a logical continuation of the active and open foreign policy implemented over the past six years.
At the Dushanbe SCO Summit 2021, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev announced the chairmanship of the organization, including strengthening joint efforts to ensure peace and stability in the SCO space, deepening trade, economic and investment cooperation, expanding transport and communication ties, and interaction. outlined the top priority areas for On reducing poverty, ensuring food security, health care, broader exploitation of existing potential in the cultural and humanitarian sectors, and combating climate change.
During Uzbekistan’s presidency of the SCO, more than 80 events were held in all areas of cooperation.
More than 30 documents will be submitted for signature as a result of the large-scale events held at the upcoming Summit.
Undoubtedly, one of the main goals of the Samarkand Summit is the issue of further expansion of the SCO family. It is expected that a Memorandum of Understanding on the commitment of the Islamic Republic of Iran to obtain SCO membership within the framework of the Council of Heads of State will be signed.
This is an important step in implementing a decision taken last year to begin the process of admitting Iran to formal membership.
It also decides on expanding the membership of observer countries and partners in the SCO Dialogue.
A document to establish cooperation between the SCO and several international and regional organizations will be signed at the summit.
Another important document in preparation for adoption is the comprehensive plan for the implementation of the SCO Convention on Good Neighborhood, Friendship and Cooperation in the long term from 2023 to 2027.
This strategically important document was produced under the initiative of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, with the support of all SCO Member States.
The draft includes cooperation in all areas within the organization and currently includes about 120 events. The main attention is on the development of trade and economic relations. Specific measures have thus been defined to further strengthen partnerships in industrial cooperation, investment, energy, transportation, information and communications, agriculture, customs and other fields, logistics, and the institutions responsible for their implementation. .
The importance of this treaty can be compared with the SCO Charter. If the charter is the organization’s “soul” and its “compass”, the treaty is her SCO’s “conscience”. Each Member State is responsible for contributing to its implementation.
This document aims to ensure the precise, rhythmic and stable functioning of the “compass” that enables organizations to continue on their chosen path.
Charters and treaties are the foundation of the SCO’s political and legal relationships and long-term determine the SCO’s philosophy and image throughout its life.
A key feature of the Convention is that each article of the instrument meets the national interests of all Member States and the broader long-term joint development goals of the SCO.
Therefore, the comprehensive plan submitted for signature and the concrete measures set out therein serve the interests of all SCO Member States, without exception, including Uzbekistan.
SCO – Major Regional organizations around the world
The total area of SCO member states is 34 million km², which is 60% of the Eurasian continent. Member States have a population of about 3 billion, or about half of the world’s population. SCO countries account for 20% of the world economy.
By accepting Iran as a full member, SCO opens the door to the Middle East, which is considered a strategically important region.
We all know that the key to an organization’s success is multifaceted cooperation and openness. The structure is therefore viewed as a convenient platform for open dialogue and broad cross-regional partnerships.
Uzbekistan – one of the founders of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization
Uzbekistan has always been recognized as one of the leaders in determining further strategies for developing mutually beneficial cooperation within the framework of the SCO.
We regard the SCO as an instrument in the fight against terrorism, extremism, separatism, transnational organized crime and drug trafficking, and in the development of multifaceted cooperation in the fields of trade, economy, transport, culture and humanitarianism. as an organization that promotes
Japan has chaired this body three times so far. In 2004, on Uzbekistan’s initiative, the SCO’s regional anti-terrorist organization was established in Tashkent. A form of meeting of the secretaries of the Security Council was introduced. A mechanism has been initiated to grant observer status in the SCO.
At the 2010 Member State Summit in Tashkent, the Rules of Procedure for the Organization and the Rules for Approval Procedures for New Member States were adopted.
One of the major achievements of the 2016 Shanghai Cooperation Organization Tashkent Summit was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between India and Pakistan committing to gain SCO Membership status. This has helped strengthen the organization’s potential and further strengthen its role on the international stage.
Since 2017, our country has become a major initiator to further develop cooperation within the SCO.
Over the past five years, the President of Uzbekistan has proposed 54 initiatives at SCO summits to improve the effectiveness of cooperation in politics, trade, economy, transport and logistics, innovation and other areas. 37 of them have been implemented and he is implementing 17 more.
Several initiatives proposed by the Uzbekistan side were adopted at the Dushanbe Summit. These include the SCO Greenbelt Programme, his SCO Interaction Plan for Ensuring International Information Security, the SCO Economic Forum concept, and tourism and cultural regulations. SCO’s capital.
As the analysis shows, Uzbekistan takes a leading position in the SCO in terms of ongoing initiatives. In the past few years, the Uzbekistan side has been mainly active in security, but now there is a need to build holistic capabilities through areas such as economy, transport and logistics, innovative and digital development, culture and public diplomacy. focus on sex.
At the initiative of the President of Uzbekistan, the strategy being implemented in the SCO space is based on key principles such as constructiveness, pragmatism and initiative.
The superiority of Uzbekistan’s foreign policy is reflected in the fact that the initiatives put forward by Tashkent within the framework of the SCO, especially those aimed at sustainable development of the region, are fully aligned with the national interests of the member states. These initiatives are therefore widely supported by all his SCO Member States.
The work carried out under the Uzbek chairmanship on the eve of the summit in Samarkand has enriched the organization’s work with concrete, effective, new and important projects. It can be said that Uzbekistan has once again endured a difficult political test with honor.
The outcome of Uzbekistan’s presidency of the SCO will be summarized at the Summit in Samarkand on 15-16 September.
We are confident that this conference will become a major political and diplomatic forum and will go down in history as an important step towards the further development of the United Nations.
by Anvar Nasirov
Director of Central Asian Institute of International Studies
