Dushanbe, 08.06.2016 /NIAT “Khovar”/.The head of the defense Ministry of Tajikistan Sherali Mirzo has arrived in Astana for participation in meeting of defense Ministers of member States of the SCO.

A regular meeting of defense ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization was held on June 8, 2016 in Astana.

The meeting was attended by Imangali Tasmagambetov, Minister of Defense of Kazakhstan, Chang Wanquan, the Minister of Defense and State Councilor of the People’s Republic of China, chairman of the State Committee for Defence of the Kyrgyz Republic, Major-General Marat Emil Kenzhesariev, Russian Defense Minister, Army General Sergei Shoigu, Minister of Defence of the Republic of Tajikistan Lieutenant-General Sherali Mirzo, first Deputy Minister of Defence — Chief of General Staff of the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Uzbekistan Lieutenant-General Shaukat Normatov as well as Deputy Secretary of the SCO Sabyr Imandosov and Deputy Directors of the SCO RATS Executive Committee Zhou Qing .

According to the International News Agency of Kazakhstan — «Kazinform», the participants exchanged opinions regarding relevant issues of the international and regional agenda and noted a high level of mutual understanding between the SCO member states in this sphere.

The participants stressed the importance of well-coordinated joint efforts in the sphere of strengthening of stability and security on the territory of the Organization.

In this regard, the heads of defense ministries of the SCO member states agreed to improve coordinating and consultative mechanisms in terms of ensuring security and development of cooperation of defense ministries in the field of fighting threats near borders of the Organization and in the sphere of information exchange.

The issue of strengthening of peace, stability and security was considered at the sitting as well. The participants highly praised the actions of the Russian Army in Syria including fighting terrorism and rendering of assistance to Syrian people and demining of liberated cities.

They expressed confidence in future successful development of cooperation in the region, confirmed strengthening of the existing trust between the SCO member states and open dialogue between the members of the Organization.

It was noted that the SCO contributed to security of the SCO member states by implementing its projects and cooperating with regional international organizations.

The defense ministers participating in the sitting expressed their confidence that joining of future SCO members to military cooperation will be an important direction of strengthening of mutual trust between the members of the Organization.

It was decided to hold the next sitting of the SCO Defense Ministers Council in Kazakhstan in 2017.