On 15-16 August 2019, the SCO Secretariat in Beijing hosted a meeting of the SCO Commission of Senior Officials in Charge of Trade and Economic Cooperation.
The discussion focused on the agenda of the upcoming SCO Heads of Government Council (HGC) Meeting in Tashkent scheduled for 31 October – 1 November. The participants reviewed the progress in implementing the Programme of Multilateral Trade and Economic Cooperation and the Trade and Economic Cooperation section of the Action Plan for 2016-2020 on the implementation of the SCO Development Strategy Towards 2025. The first round of talks on the new edition of the Programme was completed.
At the meeting Russia's partners in the SCO supported its proposal to build up cooperation in the development of remote and rural areas in the digital age. The participants reached an understanding that they should start the consideration of the draft Concept prepared by the Russian Ministry of Economic Development.
The participants also exchanged opinions on carrying out the initiatives announced by the SCO heads of state at the summit in Bishkek on 13-14 June, discussed the activity of the special working groups operating under the Council of Ministers Responsible for Foreign Economic and Foreign Trade Activities of the SCO Member States and the establishment of a Consortium of SCO Economic Analysis Centres.
The Commission’s next meeting will be held ahead of the meeting of the Council of Ministers Responsible for Foreign Economic and Foreign Trade Activities of the SCO Member States, on 23-25 September 2019 in Tashkent.