Member States | Shanghai Cooperation Organization | Region
"The Shanghai Cooperation Organization provides important guarantees for economic and trade cooperation, security and stability among regional countries." Sultan Akimbekov, Director of the Kazakhstan Institute for Asian Studies, stated in a recent interview with our reporter that over the past 20 years, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization has continuously developed and grown, and has become one of the most dynamic and influential international organizations on the Eurasian continent. It is an indispensable constructive force in improving international order, promoting global and regional development, and maintaining the security and stability of member states. The Shanghai Cooperation Organization is walking on the right path of development, setting a model for regional and international cooperation.
"Looking back at the establishment of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the three major forces of terrorism, separatism, and extremism posed a serious threat to regional security and stability. It was a common desire of regional countries to comprehensively enhance mutual trust, carry out mutually beneficial cooperation, and jointly respond to challenges. The Shanghai Cooperation Organization emerged in response to this trend." Akimobekov stated that he had launched a regional anti-terrorism organization in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan, and regularly held "Peace Mission" joint anti-terrorism exercises. The Shanghai Cooperation Organization is committed to uniting to address regional security challenges. "Kazakhstan actively participates in it, resolutely curbs the spread of drug smuggling, cybercrime, and transnational organized crime, and works together with member countries to maintain regional peace and stability."
"China's initiative to jointly build the the Belt and Road has helped SCO member countries deepen cooperation and effectively strengthened economic and trade ties between regions, which is of great significance to member countries." Akimbekov said that Central Asian countries are transportation hubs of the Eurasian continent. The initiative of jointly building the "the Belt and Road" has made the ancient Silk Road brilliant again. Land trade has once again become an important trade model in Central Asia and even the whole Asia Europe region, helping Central Asian countries achieve connectivity with neighboring countries, and effectively improving political mutual trust and economic and trade exchanges among countries in the region.
Akimbekov believes that the Chinese economy has enormous development potential and plays an important role in regional economic and trade cooperation. China's extensive participation in infrastructure construction such as transportation and logistics in Central Asian countries has provided important impetus for stable regional development. The wind farm constructed by Chinese enterprises injects a continuous stream of clean electricity into the small town of Zanatas in southern Kazakhstan, revitalizing industrial towns. "With the further integration of the" the Belt and Road "initiative with the development strategies and regional cooperation initiatives of the SCO member states, new growth points of cooperation continue to emerge, and the new engine for common development is stronger. Kazakhstan is willing to work with China to improve the construction of the Eurasian transport corridor and achieve common prosperity."
Akimbekov is full of expectations for Kazakhstan to become the rotating presidency of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, which is a great honor and responsibility for Kazakhstan. He said that the development and expansion of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization are equally encouraging. At present, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization has entered the second wave of expansion: the Samarkand Summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization signed a memorandum on Iran's obligations to join the Shanghai Cooperation Organization; "Kazakhstan looks forward to working together with other member countries to promote the comprehensive development of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and continue to provide strong support for the economic, social, and livelihood development of countries in the region."
