At this stage, the SCO is also experiencing a number of difficulties in deepening and strengthening cooperation, it is a very important platform for the Eurasian space, but the problem lies in the implementation of projects. This was unequivocally noted in his speech by the President of Kazakhstan Kasym-Jomart Tokayev at the last summit of the Council of Heads of State of the SCO. Verbatim, the leader of Kazakhstan said: "Not a single major one has been realised in the SCO in 20 years".
Map showing the member states of the SCO Digital Watch Observatory
Central Asian countries, which are at the centre of the organisation's development, can contribute to the further evolution of the organisation. Moreover, Turkmenistan's participation in the previous summit of the organisation once again very clearly underlines the importance of the SCO for all Central Asian countries. For example, at the initiative of the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, it is planned to adopt a plan for the implementation of economic cooperation until 2030 within the framework of the upcoming summit.
What to watch in the upcoming SCO summit?
On 3-4 July 2024, Astana, chaired by Kazakhstan, will host the annual summit of the SCO Council of Heads of State under the theme "Strengthening Multilateral Dialogue - Striving for Sustainable Peace and Development". Preparations for the summit have been extensive, with Kazakhstan hosting over 80 events during its chairmanship to address various topics such as economic development, environmental issues, and cultural exchanges. Key documents to be considered include the draft Astana Declaration and initiatives aimed at promoting world unity and peace. UN Secretary-General António Guterres is also expected to attend the summit, highlighting its global importance. This will be the first time the summit includes Belarus as a full member of the SCO, further expanding the organization's reach and influence. As part of the organization’s international outreach the decision to sign a Memorandum between the SCO Secretariat and the United Nations Environment Programme will be approved.
In preparation for the forthcoming summit, the parties attach great importance to strengthening the strategy of co-operation and implementation of specific projects. The SCO Development Strategy 2025 – 2035, which is planned to adopted during the summit, includes the formation of a new world order towards multipolarity from South and Southeast Asia to the Middle East and Europe, new centers of global and regional attraction such as the SCO and BRICS, and Eurasian security as a response to the challenges and threats of our time, including the "three forces of evil." The synchronization of the policies of the SCO, CIS, CSTO, and the EAEU will continue, along with the long-term stabilization of Afghanistan, supported by all SCO partners.
What are the main topics for the Central Asian countries during the upcoming summit?
Security and stability will remain at the forefront, with a continued focus on combating terrorism, extremism, and organized crime. This includes the implementation and enhancement of programs like the Programme of Cooperation in Countering Terrorism, Separatism, and Extremism. Addressing contemporary security threats, including cyber and biosecurity, will also be a significant concern, as highlighted by Turkmenistan.
Economic cooperation will be another major priority. Enhancing trade, investment, and infrastructure development is essential, as emphasized by leaders from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Turkmenistan. Improving transport and logistics networks to boost regional connectivity and economic growth will be a key focus, with proposals such as developing a unified map of transport interconnectivity being considered.
Environmental sustainability will also be prioritized, with initiatives for sustainable development, climate change mitigation, and renewable energy projects. This includes creating systems for interaction on ESG management and environmental protection, and Turkmenistan’s initiative to establish a Regional Centre for Climate Change Technologies might gain traction.
Digital transformation is expected to be a significant area of focus. There will be a push towards digitalization, including the development of the digital economy, e-commerce, e-customs, e-logistics, and digital transport corridors. Kazakhstan’s role as a Digital Hub and the proposed SCO Digital Forum in Astana are indicative of this emphasis.
Institutional strengthening will be addressed by improving the quality of activities of the permanent bodies of the SCO, such as the Secretariat and the Executive Committee of the RATS. Enhancing security mechanisms and reformatting interaction with dialogue partners and observers will be part of these efforts.
Energy cooperation will also be a significantly emphasized by Central Asian leaders especially by Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. The adoption and implementation of the SCO energy strategy will be crucial, including planning joint projects to diversify energy supplies and exploring prospects for entering foreign markets.
What is the Central Asian approach within the SCO?
All the above-mentioned topics are in fact common to all Central Asian countries in the context of cooperation in the SCO, so it is also worth considering where the interest of individual countries in the region lies in order to further seek common ground to strengthen the Central Asian approach to cooperation within the SCO.
Based on the previous participation of the countries of the region in the organisation, as well as on the speeches made by Central Asian leaders at the previous summit, it is possible to identify key topics of interest to the leaders of the countries, as well as topics that are important for all countries of the region to cooperate on. Central Asian leaders delivered speeches at the previous Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit, each of which highlighted different strategic priorities and initiatives to strengthen regional cooperation. The speeches reflected both common challenges and unique national interests, contributing to a comprehensive understanding of the region's approach to multilateral cooperation within the SCO framework.
The Central Asian countries should hold a joint meeting before the SCO summit, where the countries of the region could develop a common vision, since all the leaders of the region will attend the summit. This was already done before the recent Italy-Central Asia ministerial meeting, when the four foreign ministers of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan met informally before the meeting with their Italian counterpart.
Unique national interests and initiatives:
President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev emphasised the importance of preventing a geopolitical split between East and West and put forward the initiative "On World Unity for Just Peace and Harmony". The implementation of various initiatives within the SCO is strategically important for Kazakhstan because, as Tokayev noted in his speech, not a single project has been implemented under the auspices of the organization in 20 years: "The advantages of the SCO are geographical connectivity of the states, transit and transportation opportunities, a huge market and complementary economies. Despite this, it should be recognized that for more than 20 years it has not been possible to implement a single major economic project under the aegis of the SCO. An obvious factor is the lack of mechanisms for financial support of project activities." He emphasised Kazakhstan's role as a digital hub and suggested holding the SCO Digital Forum in Astana. Tokayev also suggested agreeing on the SCO Energy Strategy and holding the SCO Energy Forum in Kazakhstan.
Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev proposed a New SCO Economic Dialogue programme with a focus on innovative development, digitalisation and industries of the future. He suggested developing a unified map of transport connectivity to identify bottlenecks and improve regional transport systems: “We are actively promoting a number of strategic projects to develop North-South and East-West corridors. In this context, we note the start of practical work on the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway project. We are developing multimodal transport along this route, as well as through Afghanistan to the ports of Iran and Pakistan, with access to the markets of South Asia and the Middle East.” Mirziyoyev also suggested holding a conference on the SCO tourism industry and forming an annual Calendar of Intensive Cultural Exchanges.
Tajik President Emomali Rahmon proposed to establish an SCO anti-drug structure in Dushanbe to combat drug trafficking and related offences. He emphasised the SCO's economic development strategy until 2030, stressing the green agenda and sustainable economic growth. Rakhmon supported cultural projects, such as the Varanasi - SCO Cultural Capital project, and suggested declaring Almaty the next cultural capital.
Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov emphasised the need to establish the SCO Development Bank and Development Fund, as well as to switch to settlements in national currencies. He suggested creating a dialogue platform for e-commerce, e-customs, e-logistics and digital transport corridors. Zhaparov reiterated Kyrgyzstan's proposal to establish an SCO centre in Bishkek to combat international organised crime.
Turkmen President Serdar Berdymukhamedov proposed creating a platform for partnership in the field of high technology. He also touched on cooperation on technology in relation to climate change: "Fifth (area of cooperation): coordination of joint work in the field of climate change, environmental protection and ecology. In this context, I suggest that all interested parties consider participating in Turkmenistan's initiative to establish a Regional Center for Climate Change Technologies."Berdimuhamedov emphasised the strategic importance of Turkmenistan's relations with the SCO, rooted in historical and cultural ties.
The speeches of Central Asian leaders at the SCO summit collectively underline a strong commitment to regional cooperation and touch upon a wide range of strategic priorities. While there were common themes such as security, economic development, environmental sustainability and cultural ties, each leader also brought to the fore unique national interests and initiatives. This combination of common goals and specific national programmes contributes to a comprehensive and multifaceted approach to strengthening multilateral cooperation within the SCO.