On 21 April 2017, Astana hosted a joint press briefing by Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan Kairat Abdrakhmanov and SCO Secretary-General Rashid Alimov, following the meeting of the SCO Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs.
During the briefing, the Kazakhstani Foreign Minister informed journalists in detail about the main results of the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers meeting.
The SCO Secretary-General drew attention to the fact that the SCO Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs is the last step on the way to the main event held by the Organisation in 2017 — the SCO Summit, which will take place in Astana in less than 50 days. Mr Alimov emphasised the draft Astana Declaration of the SCO Heads of State, which was adopted as a foundation and proposed for consideration by the leaders. According to Mr Alimov, it "reflects the shared view of the leaders of our states on key issues on the regional and global agendas. The draft declaration highlights the importance of creating a more just, polycentric model of world order that will meet the interests of all countries, be based on the norms of international law and the principles of mutual respect and consideration for each other's interests, mutually beneficial cooperation, rejection of confrontation and conflicts, equal and indivisible security and that will contribute to the creation of a human community with one destiny."
Mr Alimov also noted that the ministers approved and submitted for consideration of the heads of state the conclusive review on horouring by the Republic of India and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan of their commitments on joining the SCO international agreements. "India and Pakistan have been given the green light for full membership in the SCO," he said.
According to the SCO Secretary-General, "Kazakhstan's SCO Presidency leads the Organisation to a new long-term development vector, which confirms the general mood for giving fresh energy to the ‘Shanghai spirit,' and promotion in all areas of cooperation. Decisions to be taken at the Astana Summit will open a new page in the progressive development of the Organisation and multiply the SCO's contribution to the maintenance of peace and stability in the region and worldwide, to sustainable development and strengthening of cultural and humanitarian cooperation within the organisation's vast space."