On 14 February, SCO Secretary-General Vladimir Norov had a meeting with OSCE Secretary General Thomas Greminger on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference.
Vladimir Norov updated his colleague on the current efforts being taken by the SCO Secretariat to strengthen the organisation's international ties and standing. He noted the SCO's priority attention to cooperation with UN bodies, which it is currently developing in keeping with the resolution of the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly titled Cooperation between the United Nations and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. The SCO Secretary-General pointed out the practical importance of the joint UN-SCO events, the latest of which was held on 19 November 2019 in New York and was attended by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. Vladimir Norov added that there would be a side event held jointly between the SCO and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime on 2 March 2020 on the sidelines of the 63rd session of the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs.
The SCO Secretary-General emphasised that the organisation was open for a meaningful dialogue with all major regional associations in Eurasia, including the OSCE, to create a space of common and indivisible security.
OSCE Secretary General Thomas Greminger noted that the SCO-OSCE dialogue rested on pragmatic interests aimed at ensuring security and stability in the area where the two organisations have common interests.
Thomas Greminger reaffirmed the OSCE's interest in promoting cooperation with the SCO in the field of combating cross-border challenges and threats in Central Asia and praised the activities of the SCO's Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS). He also pointed out the importance of coordinating the two organisations' anti-narcotic agenda, including through the active involvement in related events.
The sides agreed to maintain working contacts.