Uzbekistan’s contribution to strengthening stability and cooperation in the SCO

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), approaching its 25th anniversary, is entering a new stage of evolution, striving to adapt to the changing geopolitical environment.

On August 31 – September 1 in Tianjin, the next meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the SCO will take place. The forum will summarize the results of China’s chairmanship in the Organization, during which, despite difficult circumstances, enormous work has been carried out to strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation within the SCO.

This is evidenced, in particular, by a solid package of documents prepared for signing following the summit, aimed at ensuring regional stability and security, strengthening interconnectedness, and promoting sustainable economic development across the vast SCO space.

The SCO is becoming one of the pillars of the emerging multipolar world, offering an alternative approach to solving international problems based on mutual respect and cooperation. As President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev emphasized: “Today the SCO family is the world’s largest regional organization, bringing together a huge geographic space and nearly half of the world’s population”. He noted that the SCO’s attractiveness lies in its non-bloc status, openness, equality, and refusal to interfere in the internal affairs of states.

Uzbekistan’s new foreign policy strategy, pursued over the past eight years, is vividly reflected in the SCO’s activities. Within the Organization, the country has put forward numerous timely initiatives and proposals that contribute to raising its international profile and correspond to priority areas of socio-economic development. Uzbekistan also actively contributes to enriching the existing agenda.

According to the Leader of Uzbekistan, in the face of current challenges, it is essential not to allow the SCO to become a confrontation-oriented bloc. The primary objective is not to exacerbate the international situation, but to promote a peaceful agenda and use the SCO’s potential to address the common problems of humanity.

This vision has guided Uzbekistan since the earliest days of the Organization, consistently advocating for the gradual and comprehensive development of cooperation within the SCO. As an active participant, Uzbekistan has chaired the Organization four times and made a significant contribution to its development.

The first SCO summit in Tashkent in 2004 was marked by the creation of the SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS). Rules for granting observer status within the Organization were also adopted.

At the 2010 Tashkent summit, procedures for admitting new members were approved, along with the organizational foundations for SCO activities. At the third Tashkent summit in 2016, a landmark decision was made to expand the Organization by admitting India and Pakistan.

Since 2017, Uzbekistan has taken a more active role in the Organization, submitting proposals to foster practical cooperation among SCO countries. Of the 105 initiatives proposed by Uzbekistan to deepen political, economic, innovative, and humanitarian interaction, more than 80 have been successfully implemented.

A milestone in the SCO’s activities was undoubtedly the 2022 Samarkand summit, where more than 40 essential decisions, agreements, programs, and conceptual documents were adopted. Among them, special attention was paid to the fundamental decisions of the heads of state on the second stage of SCO expansion – granting Iran full membership and launching the procedure to admit Belarus.

One of Uzbekistan’s key priorities is strengthening Central Asia’s role as the SCO’s core. With the expansion of membership to South Asian and Middle Eastern countries, our region has become a natural link between SCO states across the vast Eurasian space.

The development of regional cooperation in Central Asia contributes to strengthening security, fostering interaction, and ensuring prosperity for the SCO countries. In 2017, at Uzbekistan’s initiative, a Central Asian process of regional consolidation was launched, creating conditions for deeper cooperation.

Thanks to the political will of Central Asian states, which helped overcome numerous pressing issues and launch joint projects, a stable and sustainable regional policy has been created to achieve common goals.

It can be said that the strategy implemented within the SCO space under Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s leadership is based on constructiveness, pragmatism, and initiative.

First, since 2017, Uzbekistan’s approach to the Organization has become more constructive.

Primarily, official Tashkent now actively participates in all areas of SCO cooperation. For example, before 2017, the country’s representatives did not fully participate in certain security-related SCO activities, including joint military and counter-terrorism exercises, as well as some cultural and educational programs.

Today, however, Uzbekistan not only influences the development of various areas within the Organization but also fully supports initiatives of other member states that serve shared interests.

Uzbekistan’s activities contribute to the implementation of the principles of solidarity in line with the Shanghai Spirit, the foundation of the SCO.

“The SCO is strong only when each of us is strong”. This statement by the President of Uzbekistan at the 2020 SCO summit fully captures the essence of the country’s constructive approach to the Organization’s work.

Second, Uzbekistan’s pragmatic foreign policy, which is also evident in other multilateral platforms, is reflected in its SCO participation. Initiatives put forward by Tashkent reflect national interests and priority development goals, while fully aligning with the Organization’s mission of promoting regional sustainable development. This is why they receive broad support from all SCO members.

Recently, Uzbekistan has emphasized the need to direct the SCO’s vast potential for cooperation in practical areas, including transportation, connectivity, logistics, innovation, digital development, and cultural and people-to-people diplomacy.

Third, Uzbekistan has become one of the most initiative-driven SCO members. This is a direct result of the constructive and pragmatic strategy outlined above. In other words, Uzbekistan’s drive to enhance the SCO’s role and enrich its agenda with new relevant areas is clearly reflected in the country’s concrete and large-scale initiatives.

The alignment of Uzbekistan’s priorities with those of other SCO members is a crucial factor in deepening cooperation, transforming the Organization into an effective engine of joint development.

All of Uzbekistan’s proposals are closely interconnected with the initiatives of other member states, logically complementing one another. Their implementation will provide a solid foundation for stability across the SCO space. This, in turn, depends on developing strong trade and economic ties, as well as practical transportation and communication corridors.

Fourth, strengthening security within the SCO. Against the backdrop of global challenges, including traditional and emerging threats, growing trust deficits, and conflicts, the SCO continues to play a crucial role in maintaining stability in Central Asia.

The organization’s primary task is to combat regional and global security threats jointly. A significant step will be the adoption at the upcoming SCO summit in China of the Program for Countering Extremist Ideology in the SCO Space for 2026-2030, initiated by the President of Uzbekistan. This program aims to consolidate efforts in combating ideological threats that undermine peace and stability.

Fifth, deepening economic ties between member states. This includes strengthening transport and logistics corridors, such as the China – Kyrgyzstan – Uzbekistan railway, as well as simplifying trade procedures and stimulating investment.

The key goal in the economic sphere is not only to increase trade turnover but also to create joint production chains and technological clusters. In this regard, Uzbekistan has initiated the development of conceptual documents aimed at promoting mutual trade, expanding investment cooperation, and enhancing transport connectivity.

Sixth, expanding humanitarian cooperation. This direction encompasses tourism, educational exchanges, and cultural initiatives aimed at fostering mutual understanding among people. SCO countries aim to promote their cultural values, which, analysts believe, will lay a strong foundation for long-term cooperation.

Experts believe that the Organization’s further strategic development will remain firmly based on key documents: the SCO Charter, the Treaty on Long-Term Good-Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation, and the Main Directions of the SCO Development Strategy for the Medium Term. The SCO also seeks to expand its dialogue with other international organizations, such as the UN, the EAEU, and ASEAN, to address global challenges and collaboratively respond to modern threats.

Undoubtedly, the upcoming SCO summit will be a significant milestone in the organization’s history, demonstrating its members’ readiness for renewal and adaptation in a rapidly changing and unpredictable geopolitical environment. Decisions adopted at the summit will not only lay the foundation for strengthening security and cooperation in Eurasia but also enhance the SCO’s standing on the global stage.