On May 11, 2012, the regular meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) was held in Beijing. Foreign Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan Yerzhan Kazykhanov, Foreign Minister of the People's Republic of China Yang Jiechi, Foreign Minister of the Kyrgyz Republic Ruslan Kazakbayev, Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation Sergei Lavrov, Foreign Minister of the Republic of Tajikistan Hamrokhon Zarifi and Foreign Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan Abdulaziz Kamilov attended the meeting. Yang Jiechi chaired the meeting.
Also present at the meeting were the SCO Secretary General Muratbek Imanaliev and Director of the Executive Committee of the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure Dzhenisbek Dzhumanbekov.
President of the People's Republic of China Hu Jintao met with the foreign ministers.
To prepare for the meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the SCO to be held in Beijing from June 6 to 7, 2012, the foreign ministers discussed how to further deepen and improve cooperation within the SCO framework and enhance the role of the SCO in the international and regional affairs. They also exchanged in-depth views on the international and regional situation and the expansion of the SCO's contacts with other countries and multilateral organizations.
The foreign ministers pointed out that member states have made great efforts to deepen pragmatic cooperation in the political, security, economic and cultural fields and continuously build the international and regional partnership network and made significant contributions to maintaining regional security and stability and promoting regional development and prosperity since the Astana Summit on the 10th anniversary of the SCO was held from June 14 to 15, 2011.
They thought that the current international situation remains complex, instability and uncertainties are still prominent, threats of terrorism are not eradicated yet and upheavals in West Asia and North Africa continue, which poses potential threats to the regional situation.
They expressed concern about the situation in Afghanistan and believe the development of situation in Afghanistan influences regional peace and stability. They support the UN to play a leading role in resolving the Afghan issue and the efforts of peaceful reconstruction of the Afghan people. They stressed that the SCO supports Afghanistan to be a country with independence, peace, neutrality and prosperity. They decided to propose to the summit to deliberate granting the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan the status of the SCO observer.
They all agreed to submit the revised SCO Regulations on Political and Diplomatic Measures and Mechanisms of Response to Events Jeopardizing Regional Peace, Security and Stability to the summit this year for approval.
They reiterated their will to deepen cooperation to fight against terrorism, separatism, extremism, drug trafficking and transnational organized crimes. They pointed out that the 2013-2015 cooperation program of the SCO member states to combat terrorism, separatism and extremis will help member states to take concerted actions in this field.
They emphasized that it is very important for the member states to work together to guarantee international information security within the SCO framework and in other international organizations and forums.
They noted that to deepen the mutually beneficial cooperation of the member states in the fields of trade, investment, finance, transportation, communications, agriculture and innovation is conducive to the sustainable growth of the SCO. The member states will work out joint programs in these fields as soon as possible. Given the fact that the meeting of finance ministers and central bank governors of the member states will be held from May 16 to 17, 2012, they agreed to continue to work on the building of financing mechanism for the SCO project cooperation, including the gradual establishment of the SCO special account, development bank or other financial and credit institutions agreed upon by related parties.
They agreed that to build the legal basis of the international road transport facilitation will further promote the economic cooperation within the SCO framework.
They noted that the SCO "good-neighborly friendship year" activities were very successful and have helped enhance the traditional friendship among the people and open new cooperation space for the member states.
They expressed support for further cooperation in the fields of science and technology, culture, health, tourism and disaster relief.
They adopted in principle the draft plan for the SCO's development strategy in the medium term and decided to submit the document to the meeting of the Council of Heads of State for consideration and approval. The document will make clear the main direction of future collaboration of the member states and ensure the SCO better fulfills its functions of safeguarding lasting peace and promoting common prosperity in the region.
They stressed that the member states should more extensively involve the SCO observer countries and dialogue partners in the pragmatic cooperation and related mechanisms within the SCO framework. The SCO is willing to work with the UN and other international and regional organizations to strengthen cooperation in international and regional affairs.
They proposed to the Council of Heads of State to deliberate granting the Republic of Turkey the status of the SCO dialogue partner.
They listened to and adopted the report of the SCO Secretary General Muratbek Imanaliev on the work of the SCO Secretariat over the past year.
The meeting was held in a SCO-specific harmonious and friendly atmosphere.