By Ajmal Khan Yousafzai
ISLAMABAD: CGSS participated at the video conference with the SCO partners on “The main outcomes of the SCO Heads of States Council Meeting†. The Conference was organized by the Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies (ISRS) under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Tashkent, Uzbekistan, here this Tuesday. The aim of the conference was to hold an expert discussion dedicated to the results of the Summit of the Leaders of the SCO countries. Moreover, the event provided an opportunity to determine the prospects for the development of cooperation through the prism of the proposals and initiatives expressed by the SCO leaders. The Conference was attended by the representatives of the Think Tanks of the member states of SCO.
Lt. Col Khalid Taimur Akram (Retd), Executive Director, Center for Global and Strategic Studies, Islamabad presented speech on the current state of cooperation within the SCO. He appreciated the effort of ISRS for organizing such important online sessions. He highlighted about main contours of the recent SCO conference. He mentioned the efforts of SCO states that they have a major role in promoting regional peace and stability. He also highlighted and appreciated the exceptional idea of His Excellency President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, of developing a comprehensive plan for rebuilding Afghanistan. He concluded by saying that Pakistan strongly advocates the idea of global harmony and multilateralism. He also provided the idea that the think tank of SCO member states should debate more on the Afghan peace process.
Ms. Minahil Shawl Afridi, Research Executive, Center for Global and Strategic Studies, Islamabad discussed the existing potential of SCO and what can be the areas that member states can cooperate to enhance the potential. She highlighted some potential areas where SCO member states can integrate more in future to preserve eco-system and environment, cooperation in health care sector, cooperation in higher education and promote cultural exchange program and tourism activities. She stated that regional prosperity is one of the important concern of SCO and in this regard peace in Afghanistan is imperative to the stability of region. She also mentioned and appreciated the role of Uzbekistan Government in promoting regional peace by facilitating the Afghan peace process.
Other speakers of the Member States highlighted the importance of recent SCO summit and also mentioned the role of each state in developing capabilities of the SCO. They agreed that SCO is becoming more attractive for other countries which provide great opportunities for SCO states to work with the world. They also suggested that cooperation can be enhanced in the sectors of economy, cultural development, infrastructure building, mutual cooperation, medical field, digitalization, health care, security and defence system. The participants highlighted the role of SCO member states for their efforts and effective role in Afghanistan peace process and emphasized on the technological development that it is rampantly evolving.
The experts that attended the Online Conference are as below:
Mr. Sanjar Valiyev, Deputy Director of the Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies (Uzbekistan)
Mr. Alisher Kadirov, Head of Department, Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies (Uzbekistan)
Mr. Sanat Kushkumbaev, Deputy Director of the Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies (Kazakhstan)
Mr. Atar Zafar, Senior Fellow, Indian Council on International Affairs (India)
Mr. Igor Shestakov, Chairman of the “Pikir†Club of Regional Experts (Kyrgyzstan)
Mr. Andrey Kazantsev, Director of the Analytical Center, MGIMO (Russia)
Mr. Daniyar Kurbanov, Director of the Information and Analytical Center for International Relations under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Uzbekistan)
Mr. Yerlan Madiev, Head of the “Chinese and Asian Studies” Program, Institute of World Economy and Politics, (Kazakhstan)
Mr. Sun Zhuangzhi, Director of the Institute of Russia, Eastern Europe and Central Asia (China)
Mr. Muratbek Imanaliev, Advisor to the Director of the National Institute for Strategic Studies (Kyrgyzstan)
Ms. Dina Malysheva, Head of the Central Asia Sector, Center for Post-Soviet Studies, IMEMO RAN (Russia)
