The SCO is also taking concerted efforts to overcome political, trade, economic and social ramifications of the coronavirus pandemic

Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed confidence in the ability of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) to respond to new acute challenges. He said the SCO plays a major role in ensuring peace and security, as well as sustainable development in Eurasia.

The SCO meeting is underway in the Russian capital of Moscow. Putin addressed the eight-member organization via video conference. The group comprises China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Pakistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, with Afghanistan, Iran, Belarus and Mongolia being observer states.

The security situation in Eurasia and neighbouring regions still requires special attention on the part of the SCO, the Russian President reiterated. The situation in Afghanistan remains tense, and conflicts in the Middle East and North Africa continue unabated. Putin said that the SCO strives to conduct a joint search for ways of resolving today’s global challenges by acting on the principles of equality and mutual consideration for everyone’s interests. He added that the organization maintains close policy consideration.

Putin pointed out that terrorism poses a serious threat with drug trafficking, organized crime and cybercrime on the rise. The SCO is also taking concerted efforts to overcome political, trade, economic and social ramifications of the coronavirus pandemic. The Russian president said much remains to be done to expand the interaction between the SCO countries in economic cooperation, to build technological partnerships and create a common transport and logistics infrastructure, to convert to national currencies in mutual transactions.

Putin added that in the light of the pandemic, the Russian presidency in the SCO has tried to do all it can for the group to work effectively and without losing its pace. He said the foreign ministers’ meeting traditionally comes as the final stage of preparations for a meeting of the SCO Heads of State Council, which Russia will use to end its chairmanship in the organization and hand it over to Tajikistan.