Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- As part of the chairmanship of the Republic of Uzbekistan in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), on 18 August 2022, the city of Tashkent hosted the Fourth Meeting of the Ministers of Internal Affairs and Public Security of the SCO Member States.

The meeting, chaired by the Uzbek side, was attended by the leadership and representatives of the ministries of internal affairs and public security of the SCO member states, as well as permanent bodies of the SCO. The Meeting was also attended by representatives of the SCO observer states and international organizations, including INTERPOL, Bureau for Coordinating the Fight against Organized Crime and Other Dangerous Types of Crime on the Territory of the CIS Member States and the CIS Anti-Terrorism Center.

During the meeting, in an open and friendly atmosphere, the heads of delegations exchanged views on issues of international and regional security, further development of cooperation in the field of countering terrorism, extremism and separatism, combating transnational organized crime, and also reached a high level of mutual understanding on the need to consolidate the efforts of Member States SCO.

The Conference participants called for further intensification of interaction within the SCO through the ministries of internal affairs and public security of the member states, taking into account the growing instability and uncertainty in the international arena.

They stressed that the development of cooperation in the field of countering terrorism, extremism and separatism, illicit trafficking in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, as well as in the field of maintaining peace, stability and security in the SCO space is a priority and relevant.

The ministers unanimously stressed the importance of an open dialogue and practical cooperation in the field of combating transnational organized crime in accordance with the principles of the "Shanghai spirit".

The parties noted the need to implement the Agreement on cooperation between the governments of the SCO member states in the fight against crime (Tashkent, on 11 June 2010), as well as to further improve the legal framework of the SCO through the interaction of the ministries of internal affairs and public security.

The participants of the Meeting highly appreciated the efforts of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan in the thorough preparation and successful holding of the Fourth Meeting of the Ministers of Internal Affairs and Public Security of the SCO Member States.

Following the results of the Meeting, the Protocol was signed.

In general, the Conference was held in a businesslike and constructive atmosphere, in an atmosphere of friendship, mutual trust and cooperation.