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SCO seeks to cooperate with UN, boost economic ties — Secretary General

The priority tasks for Kazakhstan’s presidency in the organization are strengthening regional security, developing economic cooperation, boosting cultural and humanitarian ties

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BEIJING, October 5. /TASS/. The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in the coming months intends to intensively focus on economic cooperation between member states and cooperation with the UN, SCO Secretary General Rashid Alimov said in an interview with TASS.

"Great emphasis will be placed on preparing and promoting the anniversary resolution of the UN General Assembly entitled "Cooperation between the UN and the SCO", that is expected to be approved at the current 71st session of the UN General Assembly," Alimov stated. "The international conference on economic cooperation between SCO countries is set to stir up interest."

According to Alimov, the organization has started arranging the SCO exposition at the Expo 2017 international exhibition in Kazakhstan’s capital of Astana that is due to open on June 10, 2017. Besides that, in his words, the first marathon race involving athletes from all the SCO member states is scheduled for mid-December, it will be dedicated to the Organization’s 15th anniversary.

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"There is no need to worry if the weather will be bad: the marathon will take place in Kunming (the capital city of China’s southern Yunnan province), dubbed the "city of eternal spring." The youth events will play a very significant role - the "21st century leader" competition for students, "SCO model" games, youth debates on "the SCO’s role and place in the modern world" and also a traditional children’s art exhibition will be organized.

Alimov pointed out that Kazakhstan had taken over the SCO’s presidency after Russia. "Kazakhstan’s President Nursultan Nazarbayev at the recent SCO summit in Tashkent defined the priority tasks for Kazakhstan’s presidency highlighting the need to strengthen regional security, develop economic cooperation, effectively utilize transport and transit potential and boost cultural and humanitarian ties," the SCO Secretary General said commenting on the prospects of the SCO’s practical work in the near term.

According to Alimov, Kazakhstan’s presidency of the SCO in 2016-2017 will culminate in the Astana summit that is scheduled for June 8-9, 2017 in the run-up to the Expo 2017 under the banner of 'Future Energy'.

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Russian missile cruiser Varyag enters Mediterranean Sea

The ship's crew continues to fulfill the mission it was given for the long-range voyage

Ukrainian connection to Crocus terrorist attack undeniable — ex-SBU officer

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Russian troops level off frontline near Kremennaya in LPR for further advance

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