On 17 April 2019, SCO Secretary-General Vladimir Norov had a meeting with Chinese Minister of Commerce Zhong Shan at the Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China.
The parties exchanged opinions on developing trade, economic and investment cooperation within the SCO, preparations for the Organisation's economy-related events and producing draft documents aimed at creating favourable conditions for multidimensional trade and industrial cooperation.
The Secretary-General noted that while in office, he intends to contribute to the further development of the SCO and to protect the interests of all the member states, to make an effort to fulfill the agreements between the heads of state and government and for the successful implementation of signed conceptual documents.
Vladimir Norov shared his ideas and plans on intensifying mutual trade and industrial cooperation between the SCO countries, expanding investment cooperation, encouraging joint development of production capacities and infrastructure facilities, strengthening inter-regional cooperation and facilitating direct economic links between the member states' organisations and companies.
For his part, Chinese Minister of Commerce Zhong Shan stressed the importance of strengthening the good-neighbourly relations between the states and further promoting large-scale multilateral cooperation in trade, the economy and investment between the member states, observer states and dialogue partners. He noted the Secretary-General's efforts for improving the economic links within the Organisation and expressed his full support for Mr Norov's intentions and plans in these fields.
In conclusion, the Minister wished the Secretary-General success in achieving the goals and realising the planned measures for the benefit of all the SCO members.