Press release on the chairmanship of the Republic of Tajikistan in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in 2020-2021

On November 10, 2020, the Republic of Tajikistan took over the chairmanship of the SCO from the Russian Federation. The country's chairmanship coincides with the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Organization.

The Organizing Committee of the Chairmanship was established, headed by the Prime Minister of Tajikistan, Mr. Qohir Rasulzoda.

On February 25, 2019, the Chairman of the SCO Council of Heads of States, President of the Republic of Tajikistan, H.E. Mr. Emomali Rahmon approved the Action Plan for the preparation and holding of the Commemorative Meeting of the SCO Heads of States’ Council.

On October 8, 2020, the Head of State approved the Concept of the Chairmanship of the Republic of Tajikistan in the SCO in 2020-2021. In accordance with the Concept, a Plan of Major Measures and a Plan of Domestic Measures of the Chairmanship have been developed, which cover over 100 events, most of which will be held in Tajikistan.

The country's chairmanship in the SCO will be carried out in accordance with the fundamental documents of the Organization and is aimed at the consistent implementation of international treaties, decisions, program documents and agreements recorded in the final documents of the meetings of the Council of Heads of States and the Council of Heads of Governments (Prime Ministers) of the SCO member states for the purpose of the progressive development of the Organization.

The chairmanship will be based on the principles of equality, continuity, mutual understanding and respect for the opinion of each member state of the Organization.

The slogan of Tajikistan's chairmanship in the SCO: "20 years of the SCO: cooperation for stability and prosperity."

The main objectives of the chairmanship are:

strengthening friendship and good-neighborliness between the SCO member states;

further development of the "Shanghai spirit";

maintaining peace, security and stability in the region;

building up cooperation in trade, economic, cultural and humanitarian spheres;

strengthening the image and international positioning of the SCO;

improvement of the legal framework of the Organization;

expansion of interaction mechanisms.

To implement the goals of the chairmanship, Tajikistan in cooperation with other SCO member states intends to solve a number of tasks in the following areas of the Organization's agenda.

In the political direction:

strengthening internal consolidation and mutual trust;

coordination of positions on regional and international issues affecting the interests of the SCO.

In this regard, it is planned to hold a meeting of the Council of Heads of SCO member states and a meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers in Dushanbe.

In the field of security:

assistance in strengthening practical cooperation in the fight against terrorism, separatism and extremism, drug trafficking and cross-border organized crime;

taking the necessary measures to implement the initiative of the President of the Republic of Tajikistan to create the SCO Anti-Drug Center in the city of Dushanbe.

In this context, Tajikistan will host the Meeting of the Secretaries of the Security Councils, the Meeting of Defense Ministers and the Meeting of the Heads of the Competent Bodies of the SCO Member States, empowered to combat drug trafficking.

In the economic direction:

elaboration of the issue and adoption of the Plan of Priority Practical Measures for 2021-2022 to overcome the socio-economic, financial and food consequences of the pandemic of the new coronavirus infection in the region;

development and adoption of the Concept for the creation of economic growth zones in the SCO space;

assistance in promoting the issues of wide use of transit opportunities of the member states;

assistance in deepening interaction between the Business Council and the SCO Interbank Association, establishing their cooperation with international financial institutions, improving the legal framework for cooperation;

assistance in the development of business incubators in the SCO space in order to support start-up projects;

To this end, Tajikistan is planning to hold a Meeting of the SCO Business Council Board, a Meeting of the Interbank Association Council, an Economic Forum, a Meeting of Finance Ministers and Chairpersons of Central (National) Banks, a Meeting of Transport Ministers, a Meeting of Industry Ministers, a Meeting of Energy Ministers and a Meeting of Agriculture Ministers.

In the humanitarian direction:

assistance in building up interaction between research and analytical centers of the SCO member states;

promoting cooperation in the field of preserving the cultural heritage of the SCO region;

assistance in the development of cooperation in the field of cinematography;

elaboration of the issue of adopting the anthem of the Organization during the jubilee summit of the 20th anniversary of the SCO;

promoting gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls within the SCO;

In this regard, on the territory of the republic, it is envisaged to hold a Meeting of Ministers of Culture, a Meeting of Ministers of Justice, a Meeting of Ministers of Health, a Meeting of Heads of Services of the SCO Member States responsible for ensuring sanitary and epidemiological well-being, a Meeting of Heads of Ministries and Departments of the SCO Member States involved in prevention and emergency response, Meetings of heads of tourist administrations, the SCO Cuisine Festival, the Tourist Forum, the Dushanbe SCO Half Marathon, the Forum of Mass Media Leaders and the Women's Forum.

In the field of international activity:

strengthening the image of the SCO in the international arena;

building up practical interaction between the SCO and regional partner organizations, primarily with the CSTO, CIS, ECO, CICA and ASEAN;

To this end, the Tajik chairmanship intends to hold a high-level joint event on cooperation between the SCO and the UN in New York and the Meeting of the SCO-Afghanistan Contact Group in Dushanbe. Measures will be taken to adopt a General Assembly resolution “Cooperation between the United Nations and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization” during the 75th session of the UN General Assembly.

The anniversary Session of the Council of Heads of SCO Member States (summit) is scheduled for September 16-17, 2021 in Dushanbe.