SCO ready to monitor Kazakhstan’s parliamentary elections

On 8 February 2023, SCO Secretary-General Zhang Ming met with Ambassador of Kazakhstan to China Shakhrat Nuryshev.  

The officials exchanged opinions on a number of issues related to promoting multifaceted interaction between SCO member states in politics, trade, the economy, culture and the humanitarian area. They also reviewed the key aspects of SCO activities in the context of Kazakhstan’s upcoming SCO presidency in 2023-2024.

Ambassador Nuryshev handed the Secretary-General an invitation on behalf of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan Mukhtar Beskenuly Tileuberdi to attend the early elections to the Mazhilis (Lower Chamber) of Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan as an international monitor. He also described in detail the specifics of the current election campaign.   

At the same time, Shakhrat Nuryshev focused on how to put into practice President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s initiative to upgrade the SCO activities, announced at the SCO Summit on 10 November 2020, which is aimed at the SCO’s consistent transformation into an even more effective organisation.

Apart from that, he suggested that the SCO Secretariat draw up a relevant plan and hold a number of joint events as part of the Kazakhstan’s SCO presidency in 2023-2024.

For his part, Secretary-General Zhang Ming expressed support for the political and economic reforms pursued by President Tokayev on the way to building a just Kazakhstan, adding that the SCO was active in forming a mission to monitor the 19 March elections.   

He praised Kazakhstan’s contribution to strengthening the SCO’s international reputation and assured his guest that the SCO Secretariat was ready to render full support for the Kazakhstani presidency to be a success.  

The officials agreed to maintain close contacts on various issues related to the SCO’s and its Secretariat’s activities, participate in events organised by member states and the SCO Secretariat, and exchange proposals and ideas on how to further improve the performance of this respected international organisation.