Russia assumed the Presidency of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in Bishkek on 14 June 2019. President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin set forth Russia’s vision of the SCO activities in the forthcoming period.
Countering terrorism and extremism remains one of its main priorities. In this context, special attention will be paid to building up cooperation in the SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) with emphasis on the efforts to block the funding of terrorist groups from drug trafficking revenues and prevent them from getting access to chemical and biological weapons and other weapons of mass destruction.
During Russia’s Presidency, the SCO will play a larger role in settling crises near the borders of its member states, primarily in Afghanistan and Syria.
Russia also intends to focus on deepening mutually beneficial ties within the SCO, notably, promoting new promising projects in trade, industry, energy and other areas. The formation of a new mechanism of cooperation – the SCO Heads of Region Forum is designed to play a major role in this context. Its first session will take place in Russia in early 2020.
Joint celebrations of the 75th anniversary of Victory over Nazism in World War II by the SCO member states will become a major area of their work on deepening cultural ties. A large-scale programme of events devoted to this date is being planned.
The Plan of Events during Russia’s SCO Presidency, approved by President Putin, provides for hosting over 90 conferences, meetings and sessions of federal executive bodies, public organisations and business circles at different levels. The results of Russia’s SCO Presidency will be summed up at the SCO Heads of State Council Meeting on 22-23 July 2020.
Official website of Russia’s SCO Presidency https://sco-russia2020.ru/