SCO Council of Heads of GOVs Meeting-Turkmenistan for Diversification of Eurasian Trade Ties

On the 30th of November 2020, the 19th meeting of the Council of the Heads of Government (Prime Ministers) of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in the format of a videoconference was held.
The session was attended by the high-ranking representatives of the SCO member states and observers.

The Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan R. Meredov took part in the session as a guest.
During the session, the participants discussed a wide spectrum of issues related to the main functions of SCO which is the cooperation in the area of policy and security, trade-economic and cultural-humanitarian collaboration.

Special accent was made on the collaboration in the area of healthcare, scientific research and socio-economic reestablishment of countries in the post pandemic period. The necessity of enhancing the international anti-crisis management and strengthening the role of the World Health Organization and other interstate structures was underlined.

The participants noted the significance of SCO which stands for the protection of worldwide values, primarily the UN Charter and the provision of indivisible, integrated and reliable security. The parties spoke for the advancement of international relations based on the principles of mutual respect, fairness and mutually beneficial cooperation.

Speaking at the session, the head of the MFA of Turkmenistan emphasized the strengthening reputation of SCO on the world arena and highlighted the prospective directions of cooperation between Turkmenistan and the organization. Among the priority vectors are the scientific exchanges and cooperation in the area of healthcare and medicine, assistance to the economic integration processes, including through the transport-transit and energy projects. The interest of the Turkmen side in the development of cultural and humanitarian ties on the SCO platform was also voiced.

TURKMENISTAN EMPHASIZES THE ROLE OF TRANSPORT IN THE PROCESS OF DIVERSIFICATION OF EURASIAN
TRADE-ECONOMIC TIES

Among the key themes of discussion at the meeting of the Council of the Heads of Government (Prime Ministers) of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), held online on the 30th of November, was the trade-economic cooperation and transport interconnection taking account of the impacts of the global pandemic.

The participants of the session spoke for the necessity of expanding cooperation aimed at the attainment of open, inclusive, fair and multilateral trade system based on the principles and guidelines of the World Trade Organization (WTO) which is also expected to facilitate the development of open world economy. The participants of the meeting appraised the current level of cooperation and exchanged views on the given theme.

The Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan Rashid Meredov also gave a speech at the meeting. He noted the importance of involving the SCO potential in the expansion of the trade-economic ties and drew a parallel between the constructive tasks which Turkmenistan and SCO set for themselves.
In particular, the initiatives of Turkmenistan in the area of transport focused on the connection of main flows on South-North and East-West routes that have good prospects for the SCO countries and create additional opportunities for the diversification of Eurasian trade-economic ties and encourages interregional partnership were highlighted.

In this regard, the proposal was voiced on the development of joint projects, together with the use of multifunctional port infrastructure built on the coastline of Turkmenistan and the possibilities of Turkmen commercial port.

It was stated that the Turkmen side is open for multifaceted dialogue on this and other issues. The possibility of expanding the cooperation in the area of energy was highlighted, in particular through the unification of the potential of Turkmenistan and SCO on the implementation of large infrastructural projects and diversification of energy flows on the Eurasian space. In this context, the strategic role of the construction of Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India gas pipeline was stressed, which among other things is expected to have a favorable effect on the strengthening of regional stability, reestablishment of the economy of Afghanistan, its effective integration into the continental and world economic ties. In this context, the importance of laying the power and fiber-optic communication lines on Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan route was stated.

It is specified that Turkmenistan is ready to discuss with SCO the arrangement of mutually acceptable projects, including those in the area of energy, transport, high technologies and others.

TURKMENISTAN IS READY TO EXPAND THE CONTACTS WITH SCO ON HUMANITARIAN AND SCIENTIFIC ISSUES

On the 30th of November 2020, at the meeting of the Council of the Heads of Government (Prime Ministers) of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in the format of a videoconference, the possibilities of widening the ties in the area of science, healthcare and medicine amid the global coronavirus pandemic were discussed.

The importance of scientific contacts and exchanges, application of new technologies was stated. In addition, the heads of delegations underlined the importance of promoting the historic-cultural heritage of the SCO countries and development of tourist potential.

During his speech at the session, the Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan noted that the contacts on humanitarian and scientific issues stand as the most important component of cooperation with the SCO countries.

“The common historic, cultural, spiritual ties between our states and people serve as a firm basis for working out a systematic approach in the process of building relations on the given spheres,” said R.Meredov.

Thereupon, the strong position of Turkmenistan is confirmed in regard to the work on uniting the efforts of states on fighting the pandemic through solidarity, mutual help and efficient participation. It is underlined that Turkmenistan is ready to establish close cooperation with SCO on scientific-medical vector and stands for the establishment of channels of professional communication between the medical societies, profile organizations for the long-term perspective.