Press release on the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Foreign Ministers' Council Meeting
3 May 2023 18:00
844-03-05-2023
On May 4 and 5, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will be taking part in the meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation's Foreign Ministers' Council (SCO FMC) in Panaji, Republic of India. This meeting will open the final stage in the preparations for the SCO Summit under India's presidency, which is scheduled to take place in New Delhi on July 3 and 4.
This is the first time that India has assumed the responsible mission of president of the SCO. It has already held about a hundred events, including ministerial and expert meetings, forums, workshops and festivals, all aimed at promoting multifaceted cooperation within the SCO. Russia praises its Indian partners for their proactive efforts and is committed to effectively enabling them to deliver on their agenda.
The foreign ministers will focus on preparing the agenda for the upcoming meeting of the SCO Heads of State Council (HSC). Among other things, they will discuss draft documents to be submitted to the heads of state.
The outcome political declaration will reflect the consolidated approaches of the participating parties to the key items on the SCO agenda, as well as topical global and regional matters. Adopted at the highest level, statements on specific issues, including deradicalisation, climate change, digital transformation and food security, are expected to promote cooperation within the SCO on overcoming these challenges. Operationalising Iran's SCO membership and moving forward with accepting Belarus into the SCO will feature prominently among the SCO HSC draft resolutions.
The foreign ministers will exchange views on key regional and international matters with a focus on foreign policy coordination with the aim of strengthening the UN's central coordinating role in reliably ensuring global security and sustainable economic development.
As part of efforts by the SCO member states to work together on countering terrorism, extremism, drug trafficking and cross-border crime, the foreign ministers will focus on the situation in Afghanistan, considering the urgency of preventing the instability there from spilling over into the SCO space.
To diversify economic cooperation, the SCO is expected to submit several documents to the summit aimed at strengthening cooperation in promoting entrepreneurship, introducing innovations, and improving the social and economic wellbeing of the people. Launching projects with flexible participation mechanisms at full scale is viewed as an utmost priority. Another promising track consists of stepping up efforts to increase the share of national currencies in mutual settlements among SCO member states as per the roadmap approved by the decision of the SCO HSC in September 2022.
Extensive cultural and humanitarian cooperation has become a major pillar of the SCO. Russia has been consistently advocating the greatest possible realisation of the SCO's potential in terms of cooperation in healthcare, culture, research, education, tourism, youth ties and sports. In this context, the partners are about to review Russia's proposals to establish an Association of Sports Organisations under the aegis of the SCO, which would hold the SCO Games, open to third countries, and also to create the SCO Medical Association.
During the SCO FMC meeting, participants will pay special attention to expanding the ranks of the organisation. The ministers will approve the SCO HSC draft resolution granting membership status to Iran and will discuss the application by Belarus asking if ways can be found to accelerate the procedures to accept it into the organisation. On the sidelines of the meeting, the SCO will sign memorandums granting dialogue partner status to Bahrain, Kuwait, Myanmar, Maldives and the UAE, opening up new opportunities for enabling these countries to work with the SCO on matters of mutual interest.
The agenda for the ministerial meeting includes an exchange of views on efforts to modernise the SCO and the mechanisms it uses to counter security challenges and threats to its member states. In accordance with the HSC decisions of September 17, 2021, and September 16, 2022, the FMC has been tasked with drafting proposals on this matter with the Council of National Coordinators placed in charge of overseeing the practical efforts.
Russia stands ready to work closely with all its partners in order to prepare a meaningful agenda and ensure the success of the upcoming SCO Summit in New Delhi, as well as further step-up constructive cooperation within the organisation.
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