BISHKEK, October 26. /TASS/. The SCO countries must strengthen their cooperation in the fuel and energy sectors, which is especially important in light of volatile energy prices and supply and demand imbalances, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said on Thursday.

"It is important to deepen cooperation in the fuel and energy field, especially in the current conditions of unstable energy prices and imbalance of supply and demand," he added.

He added that agriculture ministries in the SCO countries also must work more actively to develop agricultural cooperation. "Russia continues to occupy a leading position in the agricultural sector, despite the difficulties provoked from outside," Mishustin said in a statement. According to him, grain production in Russia reached a record of 158 mln tons last year, and Russia is still expecting a good harvest.

SCO member countries can stand together against Western sanctions and protectionist policies, he noted. "Our shared priority is to ensure that our countries can resist global challenges, consistently protect citizens and businesses in the face of increasing competition and turbulence, as well as tightening protectionist measures and illegal sanctions that disrupt global supply chains for goods and services. We can deal with it together," he said.