Tajikistan’s leader calls for more effective use of cooperation potential in transport and energy sectors

10:30, todayAuthor: Asia-Plus

The SCO Plus meeting was held in the Kazakh capital, Astana, on the sidelines of the 24th SCO Summit on July 4. The theme of the SCO Plus meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization was “Strengthening Multilateral Dialogue – Aiming for Sustainable Peace and Development.” The agenda reportedly included international and regional issues related to SCO cooperation with invited countries.

The Kremlin reported that the meeting was attended by leaders of the SCO member states, heads of delegations from the SCO observer countries and dialogue partner countries, heads of international organizations (UN, EEC, Islamic Food Security Organization, ODKB, OECD, CICA, CIS), as well as guests of the Kazakhstan presidency.

The official website of the President of Tajikistan reports that, speaking at the meeting, President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon noted that the SCO has become an influential international structure that plays a significant role in world politics. It was emphasized that the Organization makes a practical contribution to maintaining stability and security in the region of its responsibility, to the development of the world economy and to expanding the dialogue of cultures and civilizations.

Rahmon reportedly outlined Tajikistan’s vision for further expanding multilateral cooperation with observer states, SCO dialogue partner states and partner international organizations.

The Tajik leader, emphasizing the ongoing growth of Tajikistan’s trade turnover with the countries of the “SCO family”, proposed the launch of specific joint projects involving the potential of observer and partner countries in the field of high technologies, innovation and artificial intelligence, agriculture, as well as investment cooperation. The need for active involvement of observer and dialogue partner countries in the activities of the SCO Business Council and the SCO Interbank Consortium was also noted.

Rahmon reportedly called for more effective use of the potential of cooperation in the transport and energy sectors, inviting the countries of the “SCO family” to join the Agreement on the Creation of Favorable Conditions for International Road Transport, signed in Dushanbe in 2014.

Noting Tajikistan’s large reserves of hydropower resources, he declared his readiness for significant cooperation with SCO partners in their joint development.

Rahmon’s speech focused on multilateral cooperation in countering new security challenges and threats. He stressed the need to continue the practice of inviting observers and dialogue partners to counter-terrorism exercises and counter-narcotics operations conducted under the auspices of the SCO.

In conclusion, President Rahmon expressed his confidence that the SCO Plus meeting would become a useful platform to bring the multilateral cooperation of the SCO family countries to a new level of development, in line with current requirements.

Launched in October 2020 by the United Russia party, the SCO Plus forum format includes cross-party interactions between SCO member countries, the Commonwealth of Independent States and BRICS, an intergovernmental organization that brings together Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia and the United Arab Emirates.

Speakers from 25 countries used this format for the first time at the SCO Plus International Cross-Party Forum “Economy for People,” which took place on October 22-23, 2020.