Astana – July 3, 2024
On the sidelines of the SCO Summit in Astana, a bilateral meeting took place between Ambassador Khusrav Noziri, Secretary General of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), and H.E. Mr. Zhang Ming, Secretary General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). This high-level engagement underscored a shared commitment to fostering regional connectivity and cooperation.
Both Secretaries General emphasized the urgent need for full and swift implementation of the 2007 Memorandum of Understanding between the ECO and SCO, recognizing its potential to enhance regional synergy. The meeting delved into the commonalities and complementarities between the ECO and SCO, with a particular focus on boosting regional connectivity. The prospect of reciprocal observership within their respective organizations, aimed at fostering deeper cooperation and mutual understanding, was also discussed.
Ambassador Noziri proposed the launch of joint initiatives, particularly in culture and tourism, to further solidify the relationship between the two entities. He also shared insights into upcoming high-level ECO events, while Ambassador Zhang provided an overview of new mechanisms designed to expand cooperation. He detailed recent reforms within the SCO, including the introduction of the SCO and SCO-Plus summit formats and the allocation of distinct domains to various SCO bodies, aimed at modernizing the organization.
