On 28 September, 2019 the SCO Secretary-General took part in a meeting at the United Nations Headquarters in New York with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. The meeting started with the signing of a special book for guests of honour.
The SCO Secretary General thanked Antonio Guterres for closely following the interaction of the two organisations. He told the UN Secretary General of his meetings on the sidelines of the 74th Session of the UN General Assembly with heads of the UN Offices and about promising areas of cooperation.
Vladimir Norov focused on the SCO's close cooperation with the UN Office on Drugs and Crime and the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism in the area of combating the coalescing of terrorism with trans-border organised crime. He also pointed out the SCO's active efforts in youth policy and in expanding cross-cultural dialogue that can potentially acquire a global dimension, primarily with the UN's assistance.
The SCO Secretary General also pointed out the significance of the resolution On Cooperation between the United Nations and the SCO adopted at the 73rd Session of the UN General Assembly which opens broad opportunities for regular contacts between the SCO and the universal multilateral organisation and its specialised agencies.
Vladimir Norov also highly praised Antonio Guterres's speech at the UNSC debates on regional organisations' contribution to countering terrorist threats and at the UN Climate Change Summit, and expressed SCO's readiness to comprehensively contribute to UN efforts on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The UN Secretary General stressed that the SCO plays a key role in ensuring security and stability in Central Asia. In that context he stressed the importance for the world community of the organisation's efforts for settling the Afghanistan conflict as soon as possible.
Antonio Guterres underscored that SCO's activities have taken on a greater scale after India and Pakistan joined it. The organisation has significantly enhanced its authority and influence to assist in settling complicated regional problems and local conflicts, he remarked.
The parties exchanged ideas on strengthening global and regional security, combating ongoing challenges and threats as well as expanding cooperation between respective UN offices and the SCO Secretariat in socioeconomic and humanitarian areas.
The meeting was held in a constructive and friendly atmosphere.
On 2 December 2004, Resolution А/RES/59/48 (agenda item 151) was adopted at the 59th plenary session of the UN General Assembly entitled "Observer status for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation in the Reports, Letters of the Secretary-General Assembly " which granted the SCO the right to participate in the UNGA sessions and work as an observer.
On 5 April 2010, the SCO Secretary General and the UN Secretary General met in Tashkent and signed a Joint Declaration on Cooperation between the Secretariats of the SCO and the UN whereby, among other things, the parties stated their intentions to expand cooperation in communications and information exchange.