We the leaders of the member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (hereinafter referred to as the SCO or Organisation), based on the results of the meeting of the SCO Heads of State Council held in Samarkand on 16 September 2022, declare the following.
The world is undergoing global change as it enters a new age of rapid development and large-scale transformations. These fundamental processes are accompanied by growing multipolarity and connectivity and accelerating informatisation and digitalisation. Against this background, the current system of international challenges and threats is becoming more complicated, the global situation is deteriorating alarmingly, existing conflicts and crises are intensifying and new ones are emerging.
The increasing technological and digital gap, the persisting turbulence on global financial markets, a global decrease in investment flows, unstable supply chains, increasing protectionist measures and other obstacles to international trade are aggravating global economic instability and uncertainty.
The consequences of global climate change and the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic are creating additional challenges to economic growth, social welfare and food security, as well as to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Therefore, new approaches are needed to promote more just and effective international cooperation and sustainable economic development.
The member states, relying on their similar or identical assessments of the current regional and international agenda, confirm their commitment to creating a more representative, democratic, just and multipolar world order based on the universally recognised principles of international law, multilateralism, equal, common, indivisible comprehensive and stable security, cultural and civilizational diversity, as well as mutually beneficial and equal cooperation of states under the central coordinating guidance of the UN. The member states, acting in accordance with the principles of the SCO Charter, are committed to avoiding bloc, ideological or confrontational approaches to dealing with issues of international and regional development, and to addressing conventional and unconventional security challenges and threats. Taking into account the opinions of the member states, we reaffirm the importance of initiatives aimed at promoting our interaction for the development of a new kind of international relations in the spirit of mutual respect, justice, equality and mutually beneficial cooperation, as well as forging a common vision for creating a community with a shared future for humankind.
The member states stand for respecting the right of nations to an independent and democratic choice of their political, social and economic development path, underscoring that the principles of mutual respect of sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity of states, equality, mutual benefit, non-interference in internal affairs, and non-use of force or threat of force serve as the foundation for the sustainable development of international relations. They reaffirm their commitment to the peaceful settlement of conflicts and disputes among states based on dialogue and consultations.
The member states reaffirm that the SCO is not directed against other states or international organisations, and that it is open to broad cooperation with all in accordance with the goals and principles of the UN Charter, the SCO Charter and international law, and on the basis of respect for mutual interests and common approaches to dealing with regional and international issues.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation today has firmly established itself as a respected, influential multilateral association whose activities are aimed at ensuring peace, security and stability, jointly confronting new challenges and threats in the Organisation’s space, and strengthening trade, economic, cultural and humanitarian relations between the SCO countries.
The member states emphasise the historical significance of the SCO Charter adopted 20 years ago, which laid the foundation for close, fruitful and multifaceted cooperation between the SCO member states based on the Shanghai Spirit – mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, mutual consultations, respect for cultural diversity, and striving for joint development. They believe that the consistent realisation of these principles is helping to create a new model of regional cooperation that is making a constructive contribution to strengthening mutually beneficial multilateral relations in Eurasia.
The member states intend to further develop cooperation in politics, security, trade, economy, finance, investment, as well as cultural and humanitarian ties in order to build a peaceful, safe, prosperous and environmentally sustainable planet Earth and achieve harmonious coexistence between humans and nature.
Stressing the significance of the 15th anniversary of signing the Treaty on Long- Term Good-Neighbourliness, Friendship and Cooperation between the SCO Member States, the leaders of the member states approved the Comprehensive Plan for its implementation for 2023-2027. The member states will further step up the SCO’s participation in efforts to ensure peace and security, advocating the settlement of international and regional conflicts exclusively by peaceful political and diplomatic means in order to strengthen relations between the member states so that the friendship of their peoples is passed on from generation to generation.
The member states consider Central Asia to be the SCO’s core and support the efforts of the countries of the region aimed at ensuring prosperity, peace and sustainable development and forming a space of neighbourliness, trust and friendship. They advocate further improving the SCO’s role in strengthening the stability and socioeconomic development of this region, welcome the holding of regular Consultative Meetings between the heads of state of Central Asia and in this regard noted the successful regular summit held on 21 July 2022 in Cholpon- Ata, Kyrgyz Republic.
The member states believe that the ongoing efforts to strengthen interconnectedness between Central and South Asia contribute to achieving the common goal of ensuring prosperity and security in the vast SCO region through the formation of sustainable trade, economic, transport and communication ties and strengthening inter-civilisational dialogue.
The member states express their deep concern about the threat to security posed by terrorism, separatism and extremism in all its forms and manifestations, and strongly condemned terror attacks across the globe. They emphasise the relevance of the consistent efforts to implement the Programme of Cooperation of the SCO Member States in Countering Terrorism, Separatism and Extremism for 2022- 2024, adopted in Dushanbe on 17 September 2021.
In reaffirming their deep commitment to the fight against terrorism, separatism and extremism, the member states are determined to take further active measures to eliminate conditions that facilitate the spread of terrorism, disrupt channels of terror financing, suppress recruitment activities and cross-border movement of terrorists, and counter extremism, youth radicalisation and the spread of terrorist ideology, as well as measures to eliminate sleeper cells and terrorist safe havens.
The member states believe it is unacceptable to interfere in countries’ internal affairs under the pretext of combating terrorism and extremism, as well as the unacceptability of using terrorist, extremist and radical groups for deceptive purposes.
The member states deem it important to boost the international community’s joint efforts in countering attempts to involve young people in the activities of terrorist, separatist and extremist groups, and to pay particular attention to preventing the spread of religious intolerance, aggressive nationalism, ethnic and racial discrimination, xenophobia, and ideas of fascism and ultranationalism.
The member states note the effective activities of the SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (SCO RATS) in promoting cooperation between relevant authorities in the fight against terrorism, separatism and extremism. They also emphasise the importance of implementing practical measures to give SCO RATS greater opportunities for boosting practical cooperation in these areas.
The member states, in accordance with their national legislation and on the basis of consensus, will seek to develop common principles and approaches to drawing up a unified list of designated terrorist, separatist and extremist organisations whose activities are prohibited on the territories of the SCO member states.
The member states note the outcome of the joint anti-terrorism exercise by their competent authorities, Pabbi–Anti-Terror–2021, and a joint border operation by the border services of the member states’ competent authorities, Solidarity–2019-2021, as well as the effective chairmanship of the Republic of India in the SCO RATS Council in 2021-2022.
Original Link: http://eng.sectsco.org/documents/
