Bishkek Declaration of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s Heads of State Council

The leaders of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Member States (hereinafter the
SCO or the Organisation), following the meeting of the SCO Heads of State Council in
Bishkek on 14 June 2019, declare the following.

The modern world continues to change rapidly, the global balance of forces is going
through a reconfiguration, primarily due to the emergence of new development centres
in Asia, and the connectivity and interdependence between participants in international
relations is deepening. However, the situation in global politics and economy remains
turbulent and tense, and the process of economic globalisation is being hindered by the
growing unilateral protectionist policies and other challenges in international trade.

I

The SCO is a reliable platform for fruitful cooperation in the interests of creating a
polycentric world order that ensures the supremacy of international law, above all the
UN Charter; equal, mutual, indivisible, integrated and sustainable security; the
implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development; respect for nations’
independent choice of their political and socioeconomic development; and the interests
of each and every state. The Member States emphasise the importance of initiatives to
promote cooperation in building international relations of a new type, based on the
principles and standards of international law, primarily mutual respect, justice, equality,
mutually beneficial cooperation, and a common vision of creating a community with a
shared future for humankind.

The Member States will continue to develop multifaceted and diversified cooperation in
the interests of ensuring peace, security, sustainable growth and prosperity in the SCO
space. In this regard, they, supporting the efforts of the Central Asian countries to
deepen interaction in the political, economic, cultural, humanitarian and other spheres,
welcome the adoption of the resolution of the UN General Assembly “Strengthening
regional and international cooperation to ensure peace, stability and sustainable
development in the Central Asian Region” of 22 June 2018 and the second consultative
meeting of the leaders of Central Asian states to be held in Tashkent in 2019.

The Member States reaffirm their support for the efforts of the United Nations as a
universal multilateral organisation in maintaining international peace and security,
advancing global development, and promoting and protecting human rights. They
advocate strengthening of the key role of the UN Security Council, which, in
accordance with the UN Charter, is entrusted with the primary responsibility for
maintaining international peace and security.

The Member States have noted the intentions of the Republic of India, the Kyrgyz
Republic, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the Republic of Tajikistan to seek to
become non-permanent members of the UN Security Council, as well as the intention of
the Republic of Kazakhstan, the People’s Republic of China, the Islamic Republic of
Pakistan, the Russian Federation and the Republic of Uzbekistan to seek to join the UN
Human Rights Council.

The Member States praised the outcome of the high-level special event “UN-Shanghai
Cooperation Organisation: Cooperation Aimed at Strengthening Peace, Security and
Stability,” hosted by the Kyrgyz side in New York on 27 November 2018.

The Member States consider it important to accelerate the adoption of the UN General
Assembly Resolution “Cooperation between the UN and the SCO.”

The Member States, relying on the Shanghai Spirit, which embodies mutual trust,
mutual benefit, equality, mutual consultations, respect for cultural diversity, common
development, the goals and objectives of the SCO Charter and the SCO Development
Strategy until 2025, intend to continue to develop cooperation in politics, security, trade
and the economy, finance and investment, and their cultural and humanitarian ties.

The SCO, as an influential and responsible participant in the modern system of
international relations, will enhance its participation in efforts to ensure peace and
security, consistently advocating the resolution of international and regional conflicts by
exclusively peaceful political and diplomatic means, based on the principles of equality,
respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity and non-interference in the internal affairs of
other countries, the non-use of force or the threat of force.

II

The Member States believe that increasing challenges and security threats that are
becoming cross-border in their nature such as terrorism, the spread of terrorist and
extremist ideology, including on the internet, returning foreign terrorist fighters,
proliferation of the weapons of mass destruction, the risk of an arms race, unsettled
regional and local conflicts undermining the international security system, illicit drug
trafficking, organised crime, human trafficking, cybercrime, development imbalances,
food market instability, climate change, lack of potable water and the spread of
infectious diseases require special attention, close coordination and constructive
cooperation of the entire international community.

The Member States emphasise their intention to extend and deepen cooperation in
addressing threats to stability and security in the SCO space. The Member States noted
the SCO Convention on Countering Extremism coming into effect, as well as the results
of the SCO Defence Ministers Meeting (Bishkek, 29 April 2019) and the meeting of
SCO Security Council Secretaries (Bishkek, 14–15 May 2019).

The Member States condemn terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. They call on
the international community to promote global cooperation in combatting terrorism with
the central role of the UN by fully implementing corresponding UN Security Council
resolutions and the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy in compliance with the UN
Charter and the principles of international law without politicisation and double
standards and with respect for the sovereignty and independence of all countries, as well
as to work towards a consensus on adopting the Comprehensive Convention on
International Terrorism.

The Member States, stressing that acts of terrorism and extremism cannot be justified,
believe it important to take comprehensive measures to intensify efforts against
terrorism and its ideology, as well as to determine and eliminate the factors and
conditions that promote terrorism and extremism. They note that interfering in other
countries’ domestic affairs under the pretext of fighting terrorism and extremism as well
as using terrorist, extremist and radical groups to achieve one’s own mercenary ends is
unacceptable.

The SCO Member States signatories of the Code of Conduct towards Achieving a World
Free of Terrorism speak out in favour of its consistent implementation (New York, 28
September 2018).

The Member State believe the consistent implementation of the Joint Comprehensive
Plan of Action on Iran’s nuclear programme to be a priority and, in compliance with UN
Security Council Resolution 2231, call on all the participants to strictly fulfil their
obligations for the comprehensive and effective implementation of the document.

The Member States condemn the propaganda of the ideology of terrorism, extremism
and religious intolerance, as well as manifestations of intolerance and discrimination
based on religion or convictions in any form, and welcome the adoption of the
resolution on Enlightenment and Religious Tolerance at the 73rd session of the UN
General Assembly.

The Member States believe it a priority to step up the international community’s joint
efforts to counter the attempts to involve young people in the activities of terrorist,
separatist and extremist groups and in this respect will continue to fulfil the provisions
of the Joint Address of the SCO Heads of State to the Youth and the Action Plan on its
implementation (Qingdao, 10 June 2018), focusing on preventing the spread of religious
intolerance, xenophobia and racial discrimination.

The Member States will continue their cooperation on disarmament, control and nonproliferation
of nuclear weapons, arms control and peaceful use of nuclear energy, as
well as political and diplomatic responses to regional challenges to non-proliferation
regimes.

The Member States reaffirm that unilateral and unlimited build-up of missile defence
systems by countries or groups of states jeopardise international security and destabilise
the situation in the world. They believe the attempts to provide one’s own security at the
expense of other states’ security to be unacceptable.

The Member States parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons
speak out in favour of strict compliance with the provisions of the treaty, comprehensive
and balanced promotion of all goals and principles envisaged by it, strengthening the
global non-proliferation regime, continuation of the nuclear disarmament process with
consideration for all factors affecting international stability and promotion of the equal
and mutually beneficial cooperation in using nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.

The Member States believe that the earliest possible coming into effect of the Protocol
on Security Guarantees to the Treaty on Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone in Central Asia for
all the states that signed it will make a significant contribution to the regional security
and strengthening the nuclear non-proliferation regime.

The Member States state the importance of keeping outer space free from all types of
weapons as well as the crucial importance of strict compliance with the current legal
system, which provides for exclusively peaceful uses of outer space. They also welcome
the work carried out by the UN Government Expert Group on examining and submitting
recommendations on substantive elements of a legally binding international document
preventing an arms race in outer space and envisaging solid guarantees of no first
placement of weapons in outer space.

The Member States stand for strict compliance with the Convention on the Prohibition
of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and
Toxin Weapons and on Their Destruction, including by adopting the Protocol to the
Convention with an effective control mechanism.
The Member States call on the signatories of the Convention on the Prohibition of the
Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their
Destruction to join efforts in order to overcome the deep split within the Organisation
for the Prohibition of the Chemical Weapons, restore the integrity and ensure the
effectiveness of the Convention.

In response to the threat of chemical and biological terrorism, the SCO Member States
reaffirm and emphasise the need to launch multilateral talks at the Conference on
Disarmament on an international convention to combat acts of chemical and biological
terrorism.

The Member States are actively and persistently countering international terrorism,
separatism and extremism, transnational organised crime, illegal trade in narcotic drugs,
psychotropic substances and their precursors, as well as weapons, munitions and
explosives, threats to biological and information security and illegal migration. They
advocate further improvement of the legal and regulatory framework for cooperation in
these areas.

The Member States believe that one of the key factors of preserving and enhancing
security and stability in the SCO space is a prompt settlement of the situation in
Afghanistan. They support the efforts of the government and people of the Islamic
Republic of Afghanistan aimed at restoring peace, economic development of the
country, countering terrorism, extremism and drug crime. The Member States stress that
there is no alternative to settling the conflict in Afghanistan through political dialogue
and an inclusive peace process conducted and led by Afghans themselves, and urge to
step up cooperation of all the nations concerned and international organisation, with the
central coordinating role of the UN, for the stabilisation and development of that
country. In this context vital importance is given to further interaction in different
multilateral formats, including the SCO-Afghanistan Contact Group, the Moscow
format consultations and others.

The Member States highly praise the outcomes of the regular meeting of the SCOAfghanistan
Contact Group (Bishkek, 18-19 April 2019) and the signing with the
Afghan side of a roadmap for further steps by the Contact Group. They also noted the
intention of the Republic of Uzbekistan to host a Ministerial Meeting of the Eighth
Regional Economic Cooperation Conference on Afghanistan (RECCA VIII) in Tashkent
in the second half of 2019.

The Member States reaffirm their common stance on the lack of alternatives to Syria
settlement through dialogue on the basis of ensuring sovereignty, independence and
territorial integrity of the country.

They believe that interaction within the Astana format created the necessary conditions
for implementing UN Security Council Resolution 2254, promoting an inclusive
process of political settlement by Syrians themselves and under their leadership in order
to search for solutions meeting the interests of the people of the SAR and of the
international community. In this context, they stress the significance of continued
international efforts to assist Syria in the post-conflict restoration of the country.

The Member States will continue regular Peace Mission military command-post
antiterrorist exercises and similar events held by relevant agencies. In this connection
they noted the successful results of the Unity 2018 joint border operation (20 July –
20 October 2018).

The Member States will continue cooperation in defence and security, interaction in
ensuring safety and security of large-scale events, and in training personnel for
increasing the capability of the armed forces and competent agencies of the SCO
Member States.

The Member States will counter the use of information and communications technology
to undermine political, economic and public security in the SCO countries, and curb
propaganda of terrorism, separatism and extremism online. They oppose discriminatory
measures imposed under any pretext, which impede the progress of digital economy and
communications technology. They deem it necessary to work out universal rules,
principles and standards of responsible behaviour in the information space, and will
actively cooperate in this area in order to ensure information security in the SCO space.

The Member States welcome the adoption of the resolutions “Developments in the field
of information and telecommunications in the context of international security”
and“Countering the use of information and communications technologies for criminal
purposes” by the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly and call on all UN Member
States to continue cooperation to elaborate the rules of responsible behaviour of states in
the information space and a universal, legally binding document to counter the use of
information and communications technology for criminal purposes.

The Member States note the effective activities of the SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist
Structure to contribute to cooperation between competent agencies in fighting terrorism,
separatism and extremism. In view of the growing scale and interconnectedness of
security threats and challenges, they emphasise the need to further enhance the
interaction potential of the competent bodies in these fields.

The Member States emphasise the need to continue work on building within the SCO of
a system for monitoring possible threats in the global information space and countering
them. In this regard, the importance of further implementation of the relevant resolution
of the SCO RATS Council (Bishkek, 18 October 2018) was underscored.

The Member States emphasise the need to expand international relations of the SCO
RATS and in this regard, welcome the signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation
between the Executive Directorate of the UN Security Council Counter-Terrorism
Committee and the SCO Regional Antiterrorist Structure (Bratislava, 25 March 2019).

The Member States believe that illegal cultivation, production, trafficking, sale and
distribution of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and their precursors pose a
serious threat to the stability, security, health and well-being of the people in the region.

Underlining the importance of the three international drug control conventions and other
relevant legal documents, they consider it necessary to take action to form an effective
cooperative system to fight the drug threat and establish a reliable barrier to the
cultivation, production, manufacture and illegal trafficking of narcotic drugs,
psychotropic substances and their precursors, as well as to counter the spread of drug
addiction, including through the elaboration of a draft Concept on the Creation of the
SCO Anti-Drug Centre in Dushanbe.

The Member States support intensive cooperation with other interested states, regional
and international organisations and agencies on this matter. In this regard, they also state
the need to draft a Memorandum of Understanding between the SCO Secretariat and the
Central Asian Regional Information and Coordination Centre for Combating Illicit
Trafficking of Narcotic Drugs, Psychotropic Substances and their Precursors.

A positive assessment was given to the Joint Statement of the SCO Member States at
the 62nd session of the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs (Vienna, 14-15 March 2019),
as well as to the joint event of the SCO and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, “United
Nations and SCO in the fight against drugs: Cooperation for strengthening international
drug control” held on the sidelines of its ministerial segment on 14 March 2019.
The
importance of the SCO’s involvement in the implementation of the Paris Pact Initiative
was also underscored.

The Member States express their readiness to step up the practical implementation of
the provisions of the Agreement between the SCO Member States on cooperation in
combating illicit trafficking of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and their
precursors, the SCO Anti-Drug Strategy for 2018-2023 and the Programme of Action
for its implementation, as well as the SCO Concept to Prevent the Abuse of Narcotic
Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, with a view to deepening their anti-drug
cooperation at various levels and develop joint solutions to regional and international
drug problems. In this context, they noted the approval of the Action Plan on the
implementation of the SCO Anti-Drug Strategy for 2018-2023 and the results of the
meeting of the Senior Officials of Competent Authorities for Combatting Illicit Drug
Trafficking (Cholpon-Ata, 25 April 2019).

The Member States reaffirm the importance of the SCO anti-drug Operation Spider Web
to be held at the initiative of the Republic of Kazakhstan (8-12 July 2019).

The Member States noted the holding of the 11th Ministerial Meeting of the States
Parties to the Memorandum of Understanding on Sub-regional Drug Control
Cooperation (Tashkent, 2-3 May 2019) and the high-level international conference on
International and Regional Cooperation on Countering Terrorism and Its Financing
through Illicit Drug Trafficking and Organised Crime (Dushanbe, 16-17 May 2019).

The Member States note that corruption in all its manifestations is a threat to national
and regional security, and leads to lower effectiveness of public administration,
adversely affects countries’ international prestige and investment appeal, and hampers
their socioeconomic development. They advocate further development of international
anti-corruption cooperation.

The Member States reaffirm their commitment to develop practical cooperation in the
oversight over compliance with the legislation, abiding by law and justice, and
strengthening the independence of the judiciary and forensic investigations. They also
noted the results of the SCO Meeting of Ministers of Justice (Cholpon-Ata, 24 August
2018) and the SCO Meeting of the Prosecutors General (Dushanbe, 20 September
2018).

The Member States highly assess the practice of sending SCO missions to observe
presidential and parliamentary elections and referendums.
The Member States consider it important to intensify contacts and cooperation between
their legislative bodies, and to exchange experience in public administration and
development. The meeting of the heads of parliamentary committees of the SCO
Member States (Bishkek, 14 December 2018) was noted in this regard.

III

The SCO Member States stress the importance of further improving the architecture of
global economic governance, and deepening cooperation to build a transparent,
predictable and stable environment for the development of trade, economic and
investment cooperation through the consistent strengthening of the multilateral trading
system based on the rules and regulations of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), and
through opposition to the fragmentation of global trade and trade protectionism in all its
forms. They believe that unilateral protectionist actions in violation of WTO rules and
regulations undermine the multilateral trade system and threaten the world economy and
trade.

The SCO Member States note that the WTO remains a key body for the discussion of
the multilateral trade agenda and the formulation of the multilateral rules of
international trade. While confirming their commitment to the fundamental principles
and rules of the WTO, the SCO Member States support greater efforts to improve the
efficiency of the Organisation, including the ability of the WTO to respond to presentday
challenges to global trade in a timely and effective manner.

The Member States stress the importance of further deepening cooperation in order to
bring forth an open world economy, consistently strengthen an open, inclusive,
transparent, non-discriminatory and rule-based multilateral trading system, maintain the
authority and effectiveness of WTO rules, and to prevent any unilateral protectionist
actions in international and regional trade.

The Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan,
the Russian Federation, the Republic of Tajikistan and the Republic of Uzbekistan
reaffirm their support for China’s Belt and Road Initiative and praise the results of the
Second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation (Beijing, 26 April 2019).
They note the ongoing work to implement this initiative together, including the efforts
to align the Eurasian Economic Union projects with those under the Belt and Road
initiative.

The Member States agree that since its foundation, the SCO has built up a considerable
potential for trade, economic, and investment relations that contributes to the
improvement of economic cooperation at the Organisation. The Member States believe
that expanding and deepening cooperation of the SCO nations in finance, investment,
transport, energy, agriculture and other areas meet the interest of sustainable economic
growth in the region as a whole.

The Member States support the establishment of a favourable environment for the
development of the trade and investment that is necessary in order to gradually ensure
the free movement of goods, capital, services and technologies, as provided for by the
SCO Charter. They favour further efforts to coordinate approaches to facilitate trade in
the region in accordance with the Joint Communique of the SCO Heads of States on
Simplifying Trade Procedures of 10 June 2018.

Recognising the importance of innovation and the digital economy as a key factor for
medium- and long-term economic growth and global sustainable development, the
Member States express their readiness to harmonise the SCO Member States’
innovation policies and to promote cooperation between the elements of the innovation
ecosystem. Based on the adopted Concept of Cooperation of the SCO Members States
in the Field of Digitalisation and Information Technology, the Member States intend to
join efforts to implement innovative programmes and projects, as well as to promote
effective cooperation in science, technology and innovation, joint research, knowledgesharing
by scholars at research centres, and special competitions within the SCO in
order to find new sources of social and economic growth. In this context, ongoing
efforts to develop the analytical component of the SCO’s economic activities found
support.

The Member States believe that the development of the service industry and trade in
services are essential for the growth and transformation of the economy. They
emphasise the need to promote cooperation among the SCO Member States in trade in
services and electronic commerce, based on mutual benefit, including the examination
of prospects and modes of cooperation in this area and the continued work on draft
documents pertaining to trade in services and electronic commerce.

The Member States will deepen regional cooperation, create favourable conditions for
the expansion of mutual investment by improving the investment and business climate,
make efforts to promote peaceful development, prosperity and the stability of all the
Member States and the region as a whole, and contribute to increasing the pace of
global economic recovery.

The Member States note the importance of cooperation on economic issues between the
research and analytical centres of the SCO Member States in order to study and
comprehensively analyse the factors that affect economic cooperation within the SCO,
taking into account global and regional processes.

The Member States consider it a priority to improve the well-being and living standards
of the population by further strengthening cooperation in trade, production, transport,
energy, financial, investment, agricultural, customs, telecommunications, innovation
and other areas of mutual interest for the purpose of inclusive, green and sustainable
development. In this regard, the Member States aim to promote favourable conditions
for the development of trade, economic and investment activities within the SCO.

The Member States emphasise the importance of the further promotion of multilateral
cooperation in transport, including the development of new and the upgrade of existing
international vehicle and railway routes, multimodal transport corridors, international
multimodal logistics, trade and tourism centres, the implementation of innovative and
energy efficient technologies, the improvement of cross-border procedures in
accordance with the best international practices and the implementation of other joint
infrastructure projects to provide for the effective use of the SCO Member States’
transport potential. The Member States will focus on implementing projects that can
expand the region’s transport and communication capacities, including those involving
the potential of the observer states and dialogue partners. They express the need to
continue working to coordinate the draft agreement between the SCO governments on
the establishment and functioning of a transport integrated management system as well
as the draft Concept of Cooperation between Railway Administrations (Railways) of the
SCO Member States.

The Member States will continue to promote cooperation in agriculture focusing on the
effective implementation of the SCO Programme of Cooperation in Food Security
(Dushanbe, 12 October 2018). In this respect the Member States believe it necessary to
develop a package of measures that will upgrade cooperation in food security including,
above all, the development of a corresponding legal framework, information and
analytical work in this sphere, cooperation in training experts and establishing
cooperation with interested states and international organisations. Further agreement
and adoption of the Programme Implementation Plan will become an important
practical step in this area.

The Member States note the work being carried out to examine issues related to the
establishment of the SCO Development Foundation (Special Account) and the SCO
Development Bank and favour the continuation of related consultations. They believe it
important to expand the practice of using national currencies in transactions between the
SCO Member States. In this respect, the development of the draft Road Map to increase
the share of national currencies in mutual settlements between the SCO Member States
will be continued.

The Member States note the results of the latest Forum on Small Business of the SCO
and BRICS Regions (Ufa, 18-19 October 2018) and the SCO Business Forum (Bishkek,
17 May 2019) that were attended by representatives of the business communities from
the Member States, observer states and dialogue partners. They emphasised the
importance of holding regular forums and exhibitions to help increase the export and
import of products manufactured in the SCO countries as well as to promote
cooperation between businesses and entrepreneurs, especially in small and mediumsized
businesses.

The Member States note the positive results of the introductory meeting of the Forum of
the SCO Member States’ Heads of Regions (Chelyabinsk, 4-6 December 2018) and
representatives of regions from the SCO Member States (Chongqing, 14-16 May 2019).
They welcome the adoption of the Regulation of the Forum of the SCO Member States’
Heads of Regions and the Development Programme of the Interregional Cooperation
between the SCO Member States.

The Member States will continue their efforts to progressively unlock the potential of
the Business Council and the Interbank Association. They support the business
communities’ joint initiatives to step up their cooperation to implement projects in
finance, high technology, transport and communications infrastructure, energy and
investment in the SCO space.

The Member States consider the sustainable development and effective management of
water resources to be an important and urgent task, one of particular importance for the
preservation of the natural environment, ecosystems and biodiversity, and for the
achievement of the social Sustainable Development Goals. In this context, they
welcome the adoption of the UN General Assembly Resolution 73/226 of 20 December
2018 Midterm Comprehensive Review of the Implementation of the International
Decade for Action, “Water for Sustainable Development,” 2018-2028, aimed at
facilitating coordination and increasing the effectiveness of measures and steps taken
towards this end.

They expressed concern about the widespread consequences of the ongoing desiccation
of the Aral Sea and noted the importance of advancing interaction with the UN, and the
countries and institutions interested in solving this problem.

IV

The Member States consider it important to utilise the potential of the region’s
countries, international organisations and multilateral associations to create a space in
Eurasia for broad, open, mutually beneficial and equitable cooperation aimed at
providing stable security and sustainable development.

The Member States confirm their intention to strengthen foreign policy coordination in
the SCO format at the UN and its specialised agencies, as well as at other international
platforms. The Member States will strengthen cooperation, hold consultations and
develop contacts through the ministries of foreign affairs, embassies and permanent
missions of the SCO Member States to the UN and other international organisations. In
this regard, the Member States note the initiative of Pakistan to improve the
coordination between the SCO Member States on issues related to cooperation with the
UN Office on Drugs and Crime in Vienna.

The Member States express the need to continue to involve the observer states and
dialogue partners as well as partner international organisations in economic,
humanitarian and other activities, including through the SCO Business Council and the
SCO Interbank Association. The Member States welcome the adoption of the Roadmap
for the Development of Interaction of the SCO Secretariat with Observer States and
Dialogue Partners, and support the further expansion of ties with inetrnational and
regional organisations and associations.

V

The Member States will strengthen ties in the scientific, technical, cultural,
humanitarian and tourism areas, contributing to the further strengthening of
neighbourliness, friendship and cooperation. They will promote intercultural dialogue in
the interests of the people living in the SCO space, preserve and promote diversity of
cultures, cooperate in the study of the cultural and natural heritage of the region, hold
international festivals and contests, deepen cooperation in the fields of music, theatre,
fine arts, cinema, television and radio broadcasting, archiving, museum and library
work, as well as promote people-to-people contacts, especially among young people, as
well as tourist exchanges, including along the historical Great Silk Road.

The Member States intend to advance cooperation on the prevention and control of
infectious diseases, including particularly dangerous diseases, and to ensure the safety
and quality of food products in the SCO space. In this regard, the Member States intend
to continue holding regular meetings of the SCO Member States’ heads of services
responsible for sanitary and epidemiological protection.

The Member States commend the ongoing cooperation in healthcare, including through
the implementation of the Statement by the SCO Heads of State on Joint Efforts against
the Threat of Epidemics in SCO space (10 June 2018, Qingdao). The Member States
welcome the signing of the Action Plan for Cooperation of the SCO Member States in
the field of Healthcare for 2019-2021. Joint work will continue in areas such as
capacity-building in combating the spread of infectious and non-communicable
diseases, health emergency response, healthcare worker exchanges, telemedicine and
the promotion of cooperation between medical institutions in the SCO countries.

The Member States support the consistent implementation of the Programme for the
Development of Cooperation in Tourism (Tashkent, 24 June 2016) and the
corresponding Action Plan for 2019-2020. They welcome the signing of the
Memorandum of Cooperation between the SCO and the World Tourism Organisation (to
be signed).

The Member States praise the Kyrgyz Republic for initiating the World Nomad Games
that popularise and promote ancient nomad culture and traditions. They note the
successful holding of the 3rd World Nomad Games (Cholpon-Ata, 2-8 September 2018)
and the role played by the Republic of Uzbekistan in the organisation of the Maqom and
Bakhshi international art festivals (Shahrisabz, 6-10 September 2018; Termez, 5-10
April 2019, respectively), which aim to preserve and further develop these unique music
genres.

The Member States attach great importance to the further development of the SCO
Forum as a public consultation and expert mechanism.

They stress the importance of public diplomacy tools to strengthen mutual
understanding, cultural and people-to-people ties between the Member States, and note
the work of the SCO Public Diplomacy Centre in Uzbekistan in this regard, as well as
the initiative of the Kyrgyz Republic on a cultural integration centre of the SCO
countries and the Silk Road.

The Member States welcome the results of the SCO Women’s Forum (Bishkek, 15 May
2019).
The Member States welcome the signing of the Agreement between the Governments of
the SCO Member States on Mass Media Cooperation. They praise the SCO Mass Media
Forum (Bishkek, 23-26 May 2019) while noting the importance of encouraging
interaction between media outlets.

The Member States stress the significance of sport as an effective tool for promoting
dialogue between nations and welcome the signing of the agreement between the
relevant agencies of the SCO Member States on cooperation in physical fitness and
sport.

The Member States note the holding of the Kunming and Issyk-Kul SCO Marathons (9
December 2018 and 11 May 2019, respectively) and favour holding them regularly as a
contribution to enhancing friendship and mutual understanding between the peoples of
the SCO Member States and also to positioning the SCO in the global arena.

The Member States advocate stepping up cooperation in education within the SCO.
They deem it important to expand information exchange on the steps taken to modernise
national education systems both as part of cooperation between relevant ministries and
universities, at university rector forums, scientific conferences and symposia of
researchers, educators and students.

The importance of further promoting the activities of SCO University is stressed,
including through the involvement of interested states in the Agreement between the
Governments of the SCO Member States on the Establishment and Functioning of SCO
University.

The Member States note the significance of enhancing the potential for preventing
natural disasters and mitigating their aftermath, as well as a joint response to them.

The Member States praise the performance of the SCO Youth Council and note the
results of its regular meeting in Bishkek on 13-14 June 2019. They stress the need to
further step up the Youth Council’s participation in implementing the provisions of the
SCO Heads of State’s Joint Appeal to the Youth and the Roadmap on its implementation
of 10 June 2018.

The Member States support the development of technology parks and business
incubators in the SCO space to improve the business climate in the region and to
support youth startups, including the SCO International Youth Business Incubator
project under the SCO Youth Council.

The Member States praise the initiative of the Republic of Uzbekistan on preparing a
UN Convention on Youth Rights, and are set to pursue coordinated activities on this
issue.

The SCO Member States note the launch of the international project SCO Youth Map at
the 29th Winter Universiade (Krasnoyarsk, 2-12 March 2019), and the outcomes of the
4th Forum of SCO Universities (Belgorod, May 2019 ) as well as the hosting of the 3rd
SCO and BRICS Student Spring International Festival (Stavropol, 4-9 June 2019).

The Member States, in view of the importance of preserving environmental balance in
the SCO space and restoring biodiversity for future generations, ensuring favourable
conditions for the wellbeing of the people and for sustainable development, welcome
the signing of the Action Plan on implementing the Concept of Cooperation in
Environmental Protection.

The Member States welcome the agreements reached at the 24th Conference of the
Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in Katowice on the
guiding principles for the practical realisation of the Paris Agreement. They confirm
their commitment to fighting climate change.

The Member States stress the significance of establishing interaction between research
and analysis centres in the SCO Member States on socioeconomic issues, as well as
promoting cooperation in science, research and innovation, and underscore the necessity
to implement the Roadmap on Cooperation of SCO Scientific and Research Institutions
for 2019-2020 (Dushanbe, 12 October 2018). They express the necessity to support the
expansion of the SCO’s scientific, research and innovation potential by pursuing joint
scientific and technical projects, research, contests, and the exchange of experience
between research and education centres.

The Member States believe the 75th anniversary of Victory over Nazism, to be widely
celebrated in 2020, will reaffirm its lasting significance and the current challenge to
prevent new tragedies with mass casualties, as well as the need to actively counter
attempts to revive the ideology of Nazism, to spread xenophobia and intolerance. The
Member States support Russia’s initiatives to adopt a joint statement of the leaders on
the 75th anniversary of Victory over Nazism at the next SCO Heads of State Council
Meeting, as well as to jointly advance the proposal to recognise Victory over Nazism in
World War II as humankind’s world heritage, and monuments to the fighters against
Nazism in all countries as a world memorial for humankind to remember, to be included
in the 74th UN General Assembly resolution Combatting the Glorification of Nazism,
Neo-Nazism and Other Practices that Contribute to Fuelling Contemporary Forms of
Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance.

VI

The Member States highly recognise the Kyrgyz Republic’s SCO Presidency in 2018-
2019, which helped improve mutual trust and understanding, constructive and
successful cooperation, neighbourly relations and friendship among the SCO nations.

The Member States, drawing on a high level of mutual trust, will strive to provide
security, stability, neighbourliness, friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation in the
region.

The Member States will continue to enhance cooperation within the Organisation so as
to advance it to a brand new level and turn the SCO space into a region of lasting peace,
friendship, prosperity and harmony.

Prime Minister
Republic of India Narendra Modi

President
Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev

President
People’s Republic of China Xi Jinping

President
Kyrgyz Republic Sooronbay Jeenbekov

Prime Minister
Islamic Republic of Pakistan Imran Khan

President
Russian Federation Vladimir Putin

President
Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon

President
Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev