The 24th summit of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) has concluded in Astana, Kazakhstan, with the participation of 16 countries' heads of state and government.
The Astana Declaration of the SCO 24th Council of Heads of State Summit, chaired by Kazakhstan and hosted at the Palace of Independence in Astana, has been adopted.
According to the declaration, member states agreed upon enhancing the SCO’s role in bolstering global peace, security, and stability and shaping a new democratic, egalitarian international political and economic order.
The declaration acknowledged that the right of SCO members to freely and democratically choose their paths for political and socioeconomic development must be respected and that the long-term development of international relations depends on states maintaining their territorial integrity, non-interference in domestic affairs, and abstaining from threats of using force.
"The SCO member states reaffirmed their dedication to a more representative, democratic, just, and multipolar world order that is based on the regional and international agenda," the declaration stated while emphasising that SCO members will adhere to the peaceful resolution of disputes between countries through dialogue and consultation.
The member states agreed that they were willing to expand the organisation's capacity and worldwide impact as one of the most important organisations in the multipolar world, as stated in the declaration. Furthermore, the following was included:
"The member states emphasised that cooperation within the SCO may serve as the foundation for the development of an egalitarian and indivisible security architecture in Eurasia. It recognises the prevention of any action on its territory that violates the principles of state sovereignty and territorial integrity."
The declaration also underlined that Belarus' admission as a full member of the SCO was "historic" and that China had assumed the organisation's rotating chairmanship.
The "SCO Development Strategy until 2035" and the "SCO Strategy for the Development of Energy Cooperation until 2030" were among the 25 documents signed during the summit.
The Summit
The expanded session of the summit, hosted by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan, was attended by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, as well as President Vladimir Putin of Russia, President Xi Jinping of the People's Republic of China, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan, President Sadyr Japarov of Kyrgyzstan, President Emomali Rahmon of Tajikistan, Interim President Mohammad Mokhber of Iran, Minister of External Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar of India, President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh of Mongolia, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif of Pakistan, President Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus, President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan, Emir of Qatar Sheikh Temim bin Hamed Al Thani, Member of the Supreme Council of the United Arab Emirates and Emir of Ras al-Khaimah Saud bin Saqr al-Qasimi, National Leader of the Turkmen people and Chairman of the People's Council of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhammedov, and Secretary-General of the United Nations António Guterres.