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All SCO leaders confirm participation in Bishkek summit

The regular SCO summit due to be held in the Kyrgyz capital city Bishkek on September 13-14

BISHKEK, September 5 (Itar-Tass) - Leaders of all member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) have confirmed their plans to take part in the regular SCO summit due to be held in the Kyrgyz capital city Bishkek on September 13-14, a top-ranking official from the Kyrgyzstan president’s affairs management administration said on Thursday.

Sapar Isakov, the head of the foreign policy department, also said that Afghan, Iranian and Mongolian leaders were expected to take part as observers. “The leaders are expected to discuss issues of mutual interest,” he said. “These include joint projects in the areas of infrastructure, telecommunications, railway and motor road construction.” The key item on the agenda however will be regional security, he added.

In the meantime, the Kyrgyz capital city is getting prepared for the summit. Russia is helping the Kyrgyz side to organize the top-level meeting. In August, the Kyrgyz president’s affairs management administration asked Russia for assistance in technical issues. Thus, Moscow sent to An-124 (Ruslan) planes to deliver five armored executive-class BMW cars, ten Ford Transit minibuses and a Mi-8 VIP helicopter to a total sum of $12-15 million.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization member countries include Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, China, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.

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