4th of July 2023 Kazakhstan assumed the SCO chairmanship. Astana running SCO chairmanship for the fourth time. In this regard, Kazakhstan put forward several promising priorities in a variety of vectors. In this light Kazakhstan held more than 150 events at various levels.
According to the statement of H.E. Mr. Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of Kazakhstan the main priorities of the chairmanship are:
- ensuring security and stability;
- expanding and deepening economic and trade ties;
- enhancing energy cooperation;
- expanding digital cooperation;
- enhancing environmental cooperation;
- deepening cultural and humanitarian ties.
- The unprecedented rise of geopolitical tensions increases awareness on the importance of maintaining stable development of interstate relations. Therefore, Kazakhstan has proposed the SCO Initiative on World Unity for a Just Peace and Harmony, which offers a new paradigm of security, a fair economic environment and a clean planet. It expressly promotes an honest dialogue between the Global South and the Global North.
Traditional security threats have always been in the focus of the SCO. Thus, it is planned to adopt the Cooperation Program aimed at countering terrorism, separatism and extremism for 2025-2027 the so-called “three forces of evil”, and the SCO Anti-Drug Strategy for 2024-2029 at the Astana summit on July 3-4.
- Ensuring stable growth of the world economy requires an innovative approach. President of Kazakhstan proposed to create a joint SCO Investment fund, which will boost economic and investment cooperation. This initiative may be one of the components of the joint efforts in creating financial mechanisms for SCO project activities.
The initiative to establish SCO Partner network of large strategic ports and logistical centers also is plan to be adopted during Kazakh chairmanship. This will reveal the transit-transport potential of the region, and develop new transport corridors.
- Pressing issue of the digital gap between countries and social groups is one of the SCO primary concerns. Kazakhstan has created favorable conditions for a comprehensive digital transformation and ready to offer services as a Digital Hub in the SCO space. The first steps are already being taken. SCO created Alliance of SCO tech parks and innovation clusters, which includes Astana International Tech Park of IT Startups. A practical step in this direction was the first Digital Forum that was held in Almaty on February 1, 2024.
- Global energy security is an urgent issue of the entire global community. SCO is able to facilitate the development of mutually convenient ways to address it. Therefore, at the Astana SCO Summit, it is planned to adopt a Strategy for the development of energy cooperation between the SCO member states for the period 2030.
It outlines new directions, which will help to achieve the goals of the UN Sustainable Development Agenda, strengthen energy security, and study the prospects for the development of “green” energy in the context of global climate change. The main modalities of the Strategy have been discussed during the SCO Energy Forum in Astana in October last year.
- Kazakhstan pays special attention to addressing environmental issues. At the initiative of Kazakhstan, the SCO declared 2024 year as the Year of Environment. During this year all member states undertake joint activities on environmental protection.
The global environmental agenda dictates the need to unite efforts to address environmental issues. At the suggestion of Kazakhstan, a number of international documents in the field of environment, protection of natural sites, effective waste management, etc. have been adopted within the Organization.
- The SCO region has a colossal historical, spiritual and cultural heritage. Under Kazakhstan presidency efforts are directed at deepening mutual understanding between peoples and preserving the diversity of cultures.
For the period of the chairmanship, the city of Almaty has been declared the tourist and cultural capital of the SCO
International Conference on the Golden Horde and Its Legacy was held on April 2024 in Turkestan, the sacral city of Kazakhstan. During the Conference a majestic monument of medieval architecture, a spiritual center and the cradle of civilization – the Mausoleum of the outstanding thinker Khoja Ahmed Yasawi – was presented.
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The SCO is not a static Organization; it is improving based on the principles of equality, mutual consultations, mutual trust, and respect for the diversity of cultures.
Kazakhstan actively contributes to this process. In particular, Astana offered the member states a strategic vision for the development of the organization in the medium term through the adoption of the SCO Development Strategy.