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BEIJING: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of RT to the PRC, Saidzoda Z.O delivered a speech in Beijing. Here is the text of his speech.
Dear Vladimir Imamovich – Secretary General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization,
Distinguished Permanent representatives of member States of the SCO Secretariat,
Dear media representatives!
Allow me to welcome you all to today’s briefing event dedicated to the chairmanship of the Republic of Tajikistan and its priorities during 2021in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, which it coincides with the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Organization.
I would like to express my deep gratitude to the SCO Secretariat, especially to dear Vladimir Imamovich, for the opportunity to host this event at the SCO Secretariat.
Dear friends and colleagues!
As it known, on November 10, 2020, the SCO’s chairmanship was passed from the Russian Federation over to the Republic of Tajikistan.
It is important to point out that, during its chairmanship in SCO, Russia has done an enormous amount of efforts and work to maintain the pace of stable work of the Organization.Despite the difficulties associated with the spreading of novel COVID-19 virus infection around the world, however, a number of significant documents were adopted, which their implementations will certainly contribute to the further development of cooperation among the member states of the Organization.
Meanwhile, it is worthy to note that, on November 30, 2020, under the Indian’s presidency, the 19th meeting of the SCO’s Council of Heads of Governments of the member states was successfully held in a vitrual formation. We believe that during this period, our Indian colleagues had accomplished a great deal of work to further deepen the cooperation among theMember States in the fields of economy, trade, culture and humanitarian.
Regardingthenext meeting of the Council of Heads of Government of the SCO, which is scheduled to be held in the Republic of Kazakhstan this year, therefore, I would like to congratulate our member friend Kazakhstan on taking over the chairmanship of the Council of Heads of Governments of the member states and wish them every success.
Dear friends and colleagues!
Let me now move on to the priorities that the Republic of Tajikistan intends to carry on during its chairmanship in SCO for the priod of 2021 year.
During its chairmanship, Tajikistan first of all, based on “Shanghai spirit”, the main content of which ismutual trust and benefit, equality, consultations, respect for cultural diversity and a striving for joint development, under the motto “20 years of SCO: Cooperation for Stability and Prosperity“.
It will aim at the consistent implementation of the provisions international treaties adopted within the framework of the SCO, as well as decisions, programmedocuments and agreements thatoutlined in the outcome documents of meetings of the Council of Heads State the Council of Heads Government of the SCO in order tofurther develop the Organization and enhanceitscapacity.
Today, the COVID-19 pandemic has escalated into an unprecedented global crisis in almost every area of our daily lives, influencing in the course of development of interstate relations between the member States in a various areas of their cooperation.
On this point, based on the fundamental principles of the SCO Charter andthe provisions of the Treaty for “long-term Good-Neighnourly Relations, Friendship and Cooperation”of the SCO member States, as an international platform for strategic cooperation and mutual supportthe Republic ofTajikistanwill make every effort to further strengthen the institutional andmultidimentional perspectives of the SCO.
We believe that,as an important regional organization, while maintaining the key importance of cooperation in the fields of security and economy; building up its potential and increasing its role in the global system of international relations, as well as strengthen its internal consolidation by using all available opportunities and resources for mutual support, however continue working together on the further development of our Organization is stillone of our main task.
Priority attention will be placed on the issues of countering the pandemic and jointly overcoming or mitigate its consequences for the socio-economic development of the member States;finidng new forms and methods of cooperation, as well as the implementation of important projects carried out within the framework of the Organization in this direction.
In this context, we will promote the proposal of the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, His Excellency Emomali Rahmon on “Plan of Priority Practical Measures for 2021-2022” within the framework of the Organizationto overcome the socio-economic, financial and food consequences of COVID-19 in the region.
In our opinion, it is essential to increase trade and economic cooperation in the SCO region. In terms of economic cooperation priorities, we believe it is important to focus on strengthening mutually beneficial economic ties.
It’s equally important to resolve the issue of an establishment of a specialized financial institution of the Organization. We are hoping that the position of the member States comes closer togethe on this issue.
We think that, the SCO Business Council and its Interbank Association, in cooperation with international financial institutions, need to develop effective mechanisms to support small and medium-sized businesses, as well as investment inflows.
We hope that by the next meeting of the Board of the of SCO Business Council, which will be held this year in Tajikistan, we will be able to jointly intensify our work in this direction.
We believe that the SCO Interbank Association should retain the role of an effective tool of banking, financial and investment cooperation. The State Savings bank of Tajikistan, “Amonatbonk”, as a responsible organization, will make the necessary efforts in the coming period to give new impetus to the development of the Association’s activities.
The role and importance of the digital economy has increased in recent decades, and world trade is sinking deeper in digital reality.
All countries are now involved in the processes taking place in the global digital space, including in the segment of international e-commerce. The SCO member States will have to develop advanced national ICT technologies, create their own electronic trading platforms and an extensive digital infrastructure, and improve the legislative framework. There are objective possibilities and groundwork for it. Their implementation will ensure the joint efforts of the State, enterprises, experts and analytical community and non-governmental organizations. To this end, the Republic of Tajikistan plans to hold a Roundtable conference on digital economy, E-commerce and Innovation in Dushanbe this year.
In addition, our country has proposed to hold the SCO Economic Forum in Dushanbe this year and we hope that this proposal will be supported by our partners in the SCO.
During its chairmanship, Tajikistan plans to actively promote the realization of the transit potential of the Organization, as well as the realizations of regional transport and transit corridors.We consider it important to intensify joint work in the field of modernizing infrastructure and logistics, including by expanding the network of international logistics centers in the SCO region and forming a network of industrial clusters along transport arteries.
We will help to advance the issue of the legal framework for ensuring the smooth transportation of socially important and essential supplies, in particular food and medicine.
Industry and energyor industrial-energy complex are the most important sectors of the economy and together they represent an important component of the national economy of any country, and their level of developmentlargely determines the condition of other economical sectors, as well as it determines the economic position of everycountry as a whole. Thus, we believe that there is a need to increase cooperation in the industrial and energy sectors, including renewable energy, especially in hydropower field.In this regard, we planning to hold the first-time meeting of Ministers of Industry and Energy of the SCO member States.
As part of plans during our chairmanship, we also planning to hold a Meeting of Agriculture ministers of the Member States, as well as the participation of departments responsible for food security in Tajikistan.
We expect that within the framework of this meeting, will discuss the complex of issues related to ensuring food security in a pandemic situation.
Considering the continuation of the pandemic and its negative impact on public health, therefore, the issues of strengthening cooperation in this area is particularly significant.
In this regard, Tajikistan intends its firm intention to promote the continuation of the practice of exchanging experience among SCO specialists on prevention and counter-proliferation of COVID-19, providing humanitarian support and continuing online consultations among doctors of the member countries of the Organization during the pandemic.
As part of the celebration of the 20th anniversary of SCO, by the Council of Heads of the SCO member Statesthe the year of 2021 was declared the Year of Culture. In the context of humanitarian cooperation, in the upcoming period of its SCO chairmanship, Tajikistan anticipates to hold a number of important events in Dushanbe, which will contribute to the expansion of cooperation in the fields of education and science, culture, sports, tourism, as well as work with young people, in particular, to the SCO Women’s Forum, the Dushanbe Marathon SCO-2021 and other cultural and humanitarian events.
Th issues such as development of cooperation in the field of environmental protection, climate change is always in the center focus of the relevant entities of the member States of the Organization.Therefore, we look forward to partners’ continued support for the international initiative of the Republic of Tajikistan on the global water agenda.
Dear friends!
As one of the founding members of the SCO, the Republic of Tajikistan attaches great importance to cooperation safeguarding the security and stability of the SCO region. We are convinced that sustainable peace and security in the SCO region is the key to our successful development.
In this context, we will continue our joint effort in the fight against global challenges and security threats.We believe that collective efforts also require countering the spread of radical ideology, especially among young people, as well as the use of new technologies, including the Internet, resources for criminal purposes.
Along with cybersecurity issues, the necessary attention will be paid to continuing work to eliminatethe social causes of the manifestations of the three evils – terrorism, separatism and extremism. The nature of challenges and threats is different, which requires a unique and special approach to each of them.
The drug situation in the SCO member States, prospects for the development of international cooperation in the field of combating illicit drug trafficking and measures to strengthen practical cooperation between the anti-drug agencies of the SCO member States are key issues on the SCO agenda.
In this connection, we are deeply convinced that the relevance of our earlier proposal to establish a permanent Anti-Drug center of the SCO in the Dushanbe, surfaces again.
As part of our chairmanship, we intend to promote the expansion cooperation between our states through the defense departments and border services. Promoting cooperation, precisely in strengthening the capacity of our countries to protect the external borders of Central Asia remains an important task.
Our focus will be on the situation in Afghanistan. The President of Tajikistan, H.E. Emomali Rahmon, has consistently stressed that the fate and future of Afghanistan must be decided by the people of that country.
In this regard, the SCO States support all creative initiatives to establish a peace process in Afghanistan and hope for practical results of international efforts aimed at a political solution to the Afghan problem.
As part of the security and stability activities in the SCO region, Tajikistan will continue to pay great attention to the development of the situation in Afghanistan. Meanwhile, Tajikistan will continually contribute to the activeefforts of the SCO-Afghanistan contact group, especially in implementing the relevant Roadmap for further action to resolve the situation in this country, continues to seek ways to support and implement regional projects aimed at the socio-economic revival of Afghanistan.
We also believe that, it is necessary to continue the practice of holding high-level joint events between the SCO and the UN; to increase cooperation between SCO Member States with Observer States and Dialogue partners; to intensify practical cooperation with regional partner organizations on similar tasks.
Dear participants of the briefing!
In conclusion, I would like to emphasize that with the support of SCO Member States, especially our distinguished national coordinators and permanent representatives of member States, with the assistance of the SCO Secretariat headed by the respected Mr.Vladimir Imamovich Norov, as well as mediarepresentatives, we will carry out a very important and meaningful joint work.
Priority attention at this stage will be given to the preparation of draft documents for the meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of State and, In this regard, we hope that the SCO Member States will fully support Republic of Tajikistan in preparing for the signing of draft documents included in the agenda of the upcoming Summit.
In conclusion, I want to thank all of you for participating in this briefing.
I wish you good health, peace and prosperity to all the countries and peoples of the Shanghai Family.
Thank you for your attention!
