Rashid Alimov: “During this era of globalisation, interoperability of national and continental development strategies of countries and regions is emerging as a guarantee of peaceful co-existence and even development.” The SCO Secretary-General addressed students and professors at the Far Eastern Federal University

On 6 September 2017, the Secretary-General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation met with students and professors at the Far Eastern Federal University on the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Forum (Vladivostok, 6-7 September 2017).

Mr Alimov spoke at length about the practical aspects of developing multifaceted and multilateral cooperation within the SCO framework, the SCO experience in maintaining regional security and stability, and measures to promote trade and economic cooperation, and boost cultural and humanitarian ties across the entire Eurasian space.

He dwelt in particular on peculiarities and advantages of the partnership model devised by the SCO founding member states, which has proven and continues to prove every day to be an effective tool for building interstate cooperation based on equality and mutual respect and with regard for the interests of all participants in search of optimal solutions to the most complex issues.

"An inalienable feature of the SCO partnership model is its transparency and the fact that it is not directed against anyone. The SCO follows the line that rules out bloc, ideologised or confrontational approaches to important international and regional problems. The Organisation strictly adheres to the principles enshrined in the SCO Charter, including not being directed against other states or international organisations, and actively develops contacts and cooperation with international and regional organisations, above all the UN and its specialised agencies," Mr Alimov said.

The SCO Secretary-General answered many questions during the meeting. They concerned various aspects of SCO activity, including the role and place of the SCO in integration processes and economic initiatives in Eurasia and the Asia Pacific Region in light of efforts to align Eurasian integration within the EAEC framework with the implementation of China's One Belt, One Road initiative and national development strategies and with the prospect of engaging the ASEAN member states.

Answering the questions, Mr Alimov emphasised: "The SCO is the world's largest regional organisation whose borders sprawl from Europe to Asia-Pacific coastal regions. The largest world and regional powers making up the SCO sit together at the negotiating table, discussing a positive agenda in search of common development options. Over its 16 year history, the SCO has built an effective system of dialogue and cooperation. So, it would be fair to assume that the attainment of major objectives and the advancement of regional mega-projects will also depend to a certain extent on the development of cooperation within the SCO framework."