Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- On 20 August, an international scientific and practical conference on the theme: "20 years of the SCO: from a regional forum to global recognition" was held in an online format.

The event, organized by the Center for Strategic Studies under the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, brought together a representative composition of participants from among leaders, diplomats, prominent scientists and experts from leading think tanks in Central Asia, the CIS, China, Pakistan, Iran, India, as well as representatives of international organizations such as SCO, CIS Executive Committee.

The rich agenda provided the experts with a favorable opportunity to conduct a thorough exchange of views on the results of cooperation achieved over 20 years and the prospects for further interaction in the SCO space.

In his welcoming speech at the event, SCO Secretary General Vladimir Norov noted that the strategic choice to create the Organization, made in June 2001 by the heads of the founding states, turned out to be correct and far-sighted.

In his opinion, from the day of its establishment in a short period by historical standards, the SCO, having stood the test of time, has achieved significant results in its activities and has earned wide international recognition as an authoritative and influential intergovernmental regional organization.

Sanjar Valiev, Deputy Director of the Institute for Strategic and Interregional Studies under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, who took part in the conference, noted the timeliness and importance of this conference for understanding the pressing issues on the SCO agenda.

Thanks to the confidential dialogue established over two decades, Sanjar Valiyev emphasized, today the SCO has its own pronounced position on key international and regional problems. “Our countries demonstrate an example of close interaction aimed at developing mutually beneficial and equal partnership, ensuring the interests of each state in accordance with the norms and principles of international law,” he said.

In turn, Khurshed Ziyoi, director of the Center for Strategic Studies under the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, believes that the most vivid and vivid example of the increased authority of the SCO is the process of expanding the Organization. In his words, by opening the doors to new states in the person of India and Pakistan, the member states of the Organization demonstrated their peace-loving character to the entire world community.

The head of the Tajik think tank stressed that the established practical interaction of the Organization with key regional and international integration associations has become another important factor, testifying to the recognition of the global authority and influence of the SCO.

Meanwhile, Alexander Lukin, Director of the Center for East Asian and SCO Studies at MGIMO of the Russian Foreign Ministry, focused on the most pressing trends that have recently significantly changed the international and regional agenda of the SCO.

Lukin named one of such tendencies the process of activation of the regional course of Uzbekistan in Central Asia. In his words, thanks to this, the countries of the region switched to internal dialogue and consideration of various cooperation projects. “This cannot but have a positive effect on the activities of the SCO, whose important mission is to promote sustainable development and prosperity in the vast area of the Organization,” he said.

In general, the last forum became a significant event aimed at discussing topical issues on the agenda ahead of the upcoming meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the SCO. The participants noted the importance of coordinating actions, exchanging information and providing mutual assistance in order to eliminate the negative consequences of the pandemic, collectively counter terrorism and extremism in the region, and strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation in the political, trade and economic spheres and in the field of security.