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All SCO leaders intend to participate in July summit in Astana — Kazakh president

Kassym-Jomart Tokayev also emphasized that Astana considers the SCO to be an effective mechanism for stimulating regional security processes, trade and economic cooperation as well as cultural and humanitarian exchanges

ASTANA, March 28. /TASS/. All leaders of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states plan to take part in the upcoming summit of the association in Astana in July, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said at a meeting in Boao, China with SCO Secretary General Zhang Ming.

The head of the republic noted that Kazakhstan believes the upcoming summit is very important. Its theme will be "Strengthening multilateral dialogue - striving for sustainable peace and development."

"I think we should work in close cooperation, because the Astana summit is extremely important, given the current geopolitical situation. The whole world will be watching the summit, its decisions and negotiations. As I understand, all heads of the organization's member states intend to participate in this summit. Kazakhstan as a host country will do everything possible to make the summit a success," Tokayev's press service quoted him as saying.

The president also emphasized that Astana considers the SCO to be an effective mechanism for stimulating regional security processes, trade and economic cooperation as well as cultural and humanitarian exchanges. The leader also drew attention to the importance of carefully drafting the final documents of the summit to represent the views and positions of all member states of the organization.

In turn, Zhang Ming lauded Kazakhstan for its work in the association. "I highly appreciate the tremendous efforts of Kazakhstan as the presiding country, as well as the special attention you pay to improving the SCO activities. We expect that the summit in Astana will be very successful," the organization's secretary general said, addressing the president.

Kazakhstan holds the SCO chairmanship in 2023-2024. The organization was founded on June 15, 2001 in Shanghai. Initially, it included six countries - Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, China, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, joined by India and Pakistan in 2017 and Iran in 2023. Belarus is expected to complete the process of joining the organization soon.

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