During the meeting in an expanded format, the heads of state and members of the official delegations discussed issues of further cooperation under the new conditions, and exchanged views on topical issues on the international and regional agenda.
The President of Kazakhstan thanked the President of the People's Republic of China Xi Jinping for the traditional hospitality and excellent conditions for holding the Council’s meeting, and welcomed India and Pakistan for the first time taking part in the Summit’s work as full members.
- With entrance of India and Pakistan during the Astana summit, the SCO has significantly strengthened its role as an influential participant in regional and international policy, Nursultan Nazarbayev said.
The President of Kazakhstan stressed the importance of consistent implementation of the Treaty on the Long-Term Good-Neighbourliness, Friendship and Cooperation of the SCO Member States as a pledge to strengthen political dialogue and confidence, ensure security and development throughout the Organization.
- The combined strength of the three-billion human potential of our countries should be used to enhance the SCO economic cooperation. It is important to ensure the transition to actualizing trade and investment projects between our countries from a bilateral to a multilateral level. We are in favour of creating joint mechanisms for financing projects and mobilizing technological resources within the framework of the Organization, Nursultan Nazarbayev said.
In order to create a common platform for the development of joint modern productions and expansion of electronic commerce, the Head of State introduced the idea of creating a platform for exchanging experience in digitalization and new technologies.
For high-quality economic growth, the President of Kazakhstan proposed to implement infrastructure "megaprojects", which should have a powerful multiplicative effect and will enable the use of scientific, financial and human potential of the SCO member states.
- Implementation of the Eurasian high-speed railway (EHSR) on the Beijing-Astana-Moscow-Berlin route can become such a project. Carrying-out of these projects will unite the promising format of cooperation between the SCO-EEU (Eurasian Economic Union), and in the future, hopefully, the EU, Nursultan Nazarbayev said.
In addition, the President of Kazakhstan spoke about the launch of the Astana International Financial Centre, which will embody the best models of the world's leading financial centres and will have a positive impact on Kazakhstan’s economy and the development of all SCO countries’ financial system.
In the context of cultural, humanitarian and scientific cooperation of the SCO countries, the Head of State highlighted fulfilment of the initiative of the International Academy of Sciences of the Silk Road, which he announced last year in Beijing.
- Today, representatives of research institutions of some 30 countries have signed a constituent document on creating this Academy and are ready to engage in research and expert support for One Belt, One Road Initiative, the President of Kazakhstan said.
Noting Kazakhstan’s significant experience in the sphere of inter-confessional consent and its contribution to developing the dialogue of cultures and civilizations, Nursultan Nazarbayev said that the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions would be held in Astana and invited the delegations of the countries to participate in the VI Congress, which takes place on October 10-11 this year, under Religious Leaders for a Safe World motto.
Nursultan Nazarbayev drew attention of the meeting participants to the fact that Kazakhstan constantly makes efforts to ensure global and regional stability.
- Kazakhstan is committed to Afghanistan’s economic sustainable and safe development. In this regard, we have been providing financial assistance to Kabul for many years, the Head of State stated.
The President of Kazakhstan noted that for a short period of time the Astana Process to settle the Syrian crisis has established itself as an effective mechanism for achieving peace in this country.
- Kazakhstan stands for achieving the nuclear-free status of the Korean peninsula exclusively by peaceful means. It consistently supports and contributes to concluding the agreement on the Iranian nuclear program. We are in favour of maintaining and further rigorous implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, Nursultan Nazarbayev said.
In conclusion, the Head of State thanked Chairman Xi Jinping of China for effective and successful chairmanship in the SCO and wished Kyrgyzstan the same fruitful work in this post.
- The Organization’s success largely depends on our coordinated actions, convergence of approaches on topical issues of the world and regional agenda. I am sure that by this we guarantee a timely response to any emerging challenges and threats of our time, the President of Kazakhstan said.
Following the meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of State, the following documents have been adopted:
- Qingdao Declaration of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
- Decision of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization on the approval of the Action Plan for 2018-2022 on implementing the provisions of the Treaty on Long-term Good-Neighbourliness, Friendship and Cooperation of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Member States.
- Decision of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization on the approval of the Cooperation Program of the Member States of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in Countering Terrorism, Separatism and Extremism for 2019-2021.
- Decision of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization on the approval of the Anti-Drug Strategy of the Member States of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization for 2018-2023 and the Action Program for its implementation.
- Decision of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization on the approval of the concept of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization for Prevention of Abuse of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances.
- Decision of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization on the development of a draft program of cooperation of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization member states on food security.
- Decision of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization on the adoption of the Concept of Cooperation of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Member States in Environmental Protection.
- Decision of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization on the approval of the Action Program for implementing the provisions of the Joint Appeal of the Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization to Youth.
- Decision of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization on the approval of the Report of the Secretary General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization on the Shanghai Cooperation Organization activities for the past year.
- Decision of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization on the approval of the Report of the Council of the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization on the activities of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization's Regional Antiterrorist Structure in 2017.
- Decision of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization on signing the Memo of Understanding on cooperation between the Secretariat of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (2018-2022).
- Decision of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization on the Secretary-General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
- Decision of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization on the Director of the Executive Committee of the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
- Joint Appeal of the Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization to Youth.
- Statement of the Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization on Joint Counteraction to Threats to Epidemics in the Sphere of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
- Joint Statement of the Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization on Trade Facilitation.
- Information on the results of the meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
Documents signed in the presence of heads of state as part of the meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization:
- Memo of Understanding on the promotion of cooperation within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in the field of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises between the ministries of the member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization responsible for foreign economic and foreign trade activities.
- Memorandum between the customs services of the member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization on exchange of information on the transboundary movement of ozone-depleting substances.
- Regulation of information interaction of round-the-clock contact points, OCENcomm RILO-MOSCOW operational platform.
- Plan of joint actions for implementation of the Cooperation Program of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization member states in tourism for 2019-2020.
- Memo of Understanding on cooperation between the Secretariat of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (2018-2022).
