SCO Secretary-General Vladimir Norov sent a video address to participants in the 3rd International Forum for Northern Economic Cooperation, held on 18 November 2021, at the request of the forum's organisers.
Mr Norov briefly discussed the SCO's achievements in the 20 years of its existence and underscored the fact that the Organisation would continue to maintain peace and security, while consistently advocating the resolution of conflicts only by peaceful political and diplomatic methods on the basis of the principles of equality, respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity, non-interference in the domestic affairs of states, and the rejection of the use of force or the threat of force.
While speaking about the forum's subject matter, the Secretary-General noted that the New Northern Policy, implemented by the administration of the President of the Republic of Korea, also calls for cooperation with the SCO countries in order to become actively involved in Eurasian integration processes. The SCO is convinced that the launching of dialogue between the SCO countries and the Republic of Korea will help expand the horizons of the parties' trade and economic relations, ensure transport connectivity and find opportunities for merging the New Northern Policy with economic development strategies of the SCO countries and initiatives of the Greater Eurasian Partnership and the Belt and Road Initiative. This will create prospects for turning the Eurasian region into an area of peace, cooperation and interaction, and this will also provide equal opportunities and prosperity, Mr Norov said in conclusion.