On 17 November 2021, SCO Secretary-General Vladimir Norov delivered an online report, "A Vision for the New Post-Pandemic World," at the panel session "30 Years of Independence: Nazarbayev's Strategy and the Future of Kazakhstan and Central Asia" of the 6th Astana Club meeting.
Mr Norov said that the name of Kazakhstan's first president, Nursultan Nazarbayev, was inseparably linked with the establishment of independent Kazakhstan, its progressive development, and its respected place on the international stage.
He stressed that cooperation between Central Asian states in recent years had acquired new dynamism, which was largely due to Mr Nazarbayev's active efforts. Owing to the political will and joint efforts of leaders of this region's countries, it became possible to reach mutually acceptable solutions to many difficult and controversial problems based on reasonable compromises and with regard for the interests of all stakeholders.
Current Central Asian trends are creating the potential for a Silk Route revival based on an awareness of the common, indivisible future of fraternal peoples. "We must effectively implement existing long-term programmes and plans for socioeconomic development in the Central Asian region," Mr Norov stressed in his report.
The Secretary-General noted that the problem of Afghanistan was high on the regional agenda. The SCO has invariably supported the efforts aimed at ensuring peace, security and stability in Kazakhstan and Central Asia as a whole, the nucleus of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.
The event involved over 50 prominent international experts and politicians, including former heads of state and government, as well as heads of analytical centres, international organisations, and global media outlets.