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Uzbekistan presiding in the SCO has actively entered into its rights

Date of publication: 31 January 2022
Samarkand is preparing to host the summit of the Organization this year

The current chairman of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO or the Organization), Uzbekistan, has outlined the main activities for 2022. In particular, despite the ongoing worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, Tashkent plans to hold more than 80 international events this year and strengthen cooperation between the SCO countries in the field of security. This was previously announced by the deputy head of the administration and presidential press secretary Sherzod Asadov.

As priorities, Uzbekistan has outlined the intensification of economic cooperation and strengthening the organization’s potential in the field of security. Tashkent intends to expand the SCO agenda through new areas, such as the creation of mechanisms for the development of digital technologies and innovations. Strengthening the dialogue in the health sector remains relevant in the context of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

The country’s authorities have developed a special roadmap and the concept of their presidency. “There is no doubt that all activities under the chairmanship of Uzbekistan in the SCO will be held at the highest level,” said the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic Abdulaziz Kamilov. By the way, the next meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of State will be held on September 15-16 in Samarkand, which, according to Kamilov, opens up an opportunity to realize the potential of the Organization in a new way, strengthen its role and significance.

It should be noted that back in September 2021, at the SCO summit in Dushanbe, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev outlined the main priorities and tasks of chairmanship in the association. Among them: strengthening the potential and authority of the Organization, intensifying efforts to ensure peace and stability in the region, reducing poverty and ensuring food security. Uzbekistan advocated the development of a plan for the development of intra-regional trade, which will include measures to eliminate trade barriers, convergence of technical regulations and digitalization of customs procedures.

In addition, the President of Uzbekistan proposed establishing an expert forum on information security and introducing the institution of the SCO Goodwill Ambassador. The priorities also include the adoption of an industrial cooperation program, the preparation of an intergovernmental agreement on cooperation in the field of tourism and an infrastructure development program in the Organization’s space.

It should be noted that not only the coronavirus, but also the difficult international situation leaves its mark on the chairmanship of Uzbekistan in the SCO. Thus, in connection with the tension in neighboring Afghanistan, where the Taliban movement (banned in Russia) came to power in August last year, Shavkat Mirziyoyev noted the need for a unified approach to the situation in this country. In particular, he proposed to regularly hold high-level meetings in the SCO-Afghanistan format, expressing readiness to organize the first of them in Tashkent. Rahmatulla Nurimbetov, Uzbekistan’s national coordinator for the Organization said that the republic has already begun preparations for this meeting, which is expected to be held this year.

In the meantime, preparations for the September SCO summit in Samarkand are in full swing in Uzbekistan. It will be attended by about 20 heads of state and leaders of this now influential association. Experts believe that this will be one of the most important events of the current year, not only for the Central Asian region (CA), but for the whole world. In their opinion, one of the main goals of the SCO is to protect the region from the influence of the West. For example, this opinion is shared by a political scientist from Pakistan, Zamir Ahmed Avaan.

“The West, especially the United States and the European Union, are trying to politically dominate and influence the region. <…> The Shanghai Cooperation Organization is just such an alliance that unites the interests of the countries of the region in terms of security and economy. <…> Today there are only two groups of countries in the world: the first is the United States and its allies, and the second is Russia and its partners. We believe that the SCO will make even more efforts to resolve the confrontations between the countries that are members of this organization,” the Pakistani political scientist believes.

Of course, the task of political scientists and analysts is to reflect on the significance of the SCO, but the leadership of Samarkand today has the main goal of adequately preparing for the September summit. As Deputy Prime Minister of Uzbekistan Aziz Abdukhakimov told reporters earlier, the entire necessary infrastructure will be prepared for the organization’s summit in Samarkand. On this occasion, a large-scale reconstruction is planned in the city.

In particular, the city authorities have developed an action plan to prepare Samarkand International Airport for the meeting of the heads of state and government, as well as guests of the SCO countries. Construction is already in full swing. The new airport will be modern and high-tech. The design of the project is a “synthesis of past and present”. The airport will take the form of an “open book” with images of constellations right on the roof of the building, which should once again remind residents and guests of the city about the contribution of the outstanding astronomer Mirzo Ulugbek to the development of science and civilization of all mankind. For the construction of the airport, which will cost $62 million, leading international experts in architecture and construction are involved.

In addition, for the participants and guests of the SCO summit in the first quarter of this year, it is planned to complete the construction of a new Samarkand international tourist center Silk Road, estimated at $353 million. There will be a congress hall, eight hotels, the Eternal City complex, a recreation area and other facilities. . The main events of the summit will be held at the site of this center. In the future, it is understood that it is here that tourists from all over the world will come to Uzbekistan.

The Organization’s summit guests will be provided with another local attraction – the Samarkand Rowing Canal. It was built and opened back in Soviet times for holding tournaments and competitions in rowing water sports, as well as for training athletes in rowing. The canal is 2,180 meters long and over 150 meters wide, which fully complies with international standards. In the Central Asian region, this is the only such sports facility, and within the whole world – one of several. In the future, the canal provides for the construction of outdoor and indoor swimming pools. In short, Samarkand is intensively preparing for the SCO summit.

In conclusion, one would like to quote the opinion of Andrei Rudenko, Deputy Head of the Russian Foreign Ministry. He stated that Russia counts on Uzbekistan, as a chair country, to successfully cope with the challenges facing the Organization and hold the next association summit with dignity. Earlier, we note that Uzbekistan has chaired the SCO three times – in 2004, 2010 and 2016.

Sergey Saenko, international observer

 



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