MOSCOW, April 16. /TASS/. Russia consistently backs the direction of Kazakhstan's chairmanship in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), said Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko.

"We consistently support the priorities of Kazakhstan’s chairmanship. <...> These proposals are aimed at consolidating the SCO, its active international positioning," the deputy foreign minister said at a round table dedicated to Astana’s chairmanship in the SCO.

Rudenko emphasized that Russia is providing all necessary assistance in the meaningful preparation of the summit in Astana. "The consolidated approaches of the SCO member states to the development of the organization and current global and regional problems, as always, will be reflected in the political declaration of the leaders, which is currently being worked on," the deputy foreign minister added.

About SCO’s modernization

The deputy minister noted that currently, in pursuance of the decisions of the leaders of the SCO member states in 2021 and 2022, under the chairmanship of Kazakhstan, proposals are being prepared to modernize the organization, taking into account existing initiatives. "There are many [initiatives], but the key goal is to give new dynamics and quality to SCO cooperation, to make its activities (the activities of the SCO - TASS) more relevant, which would take into account the current geopolitical realities," the deputy minister emphasized.

"To achieve this goal, comprehensive measures will be required to further improve the functioning of SCO bodies, mechanisms for countering security challenges and threats, and reformatting cooperation with partners," Rudenko added.

About the organization

The SCO was founded in 2001 in Shanghai. The organization currently brings together Russia, Iran, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, China, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Pakistan. Afghanistan, Belarus and Mongolia are observers. Another 14 states are the organization’s dialogue partners.

The SCO countries interact with each other in various areas: economics, energy, science, culture, development of transport infrastructure, the fight against terrorism and extremism, and more.

Kazakhstan holds the presidency of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization from July 5, 2023 to June 2024.