DUSHANBE, 14.06.2019. (NIAT Khovar) – On June 14, the Founder of Peace and National Unity, Leader of the Nation, President of the Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon attended and delivered speech at the meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic.

The Council of SCO Heads of State was initially held in a narrow format with the participation of the heads of Tajikistan, Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, India and Pakistan.

The meeting focused on the current situation and development prospects of the SCO, the primary tasks of strengthening and deepening integration in the fields of politics, economics, security within the framework of the organization in modern conditions, the situation in the region, as well as other relevant topics of regional and global importance.

The heads of state and government observers of Afghanistan, Belarus, Mongolia, Iran, secretary-generals and representatives of the UN, the SCO, the CSTO and CIS board, as well as high-ranking representatives of other international and regional organizations took also part in the enlarged meeting.

In his speech President Emomali Rahmon expressed his gratitude to the Kyrgyz side and President Sooronbai Jeenbekov for their hospitality and the worthy organization of this summit.

President Emomali Rahmon spoke about the situation in Afghanistan, the growing threats in the region, the need for a joint fight against terrorism, extremism and the spread of their criminal ideology.

In order to ensure sustainable economic development within the SCO, President Emomali Rahmon suggested accelerating the examination of issues relating to the establishment of the SCO Bank, the SCO Development Fund, as well as the use of infrastructure investment opportunities of the Asian Bank, the SCO Interbank Association for financing joint projects.

Emomali Rahmon also drew the attention of the heads of state to the issues relating to the expanding cooperation of countries in the fields of transportation, communications, development and financing projects in the fields of energy, industry, transport, agriculture and tourism.

Following the speeches by the heads of state, the Bishkek Declaration was adopted, and in general, eight documents, including an agreement between the governments of the SCO member states on cooperation in the media, an agreement between the structures of the SCO member states on cooperation in physical education and sports and the plan of basic measures for the development of cooperation of the SCO member states in the field of healthcare for 2019-2021 were signed.