On 3 March in Vienna, SCO Secretary-General Vladimir Norov met with Zeng Weixun, deputy director of the China National Narcotics Control Commission on the sidelines of the 63rd session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs.
During the meeting, they exchanged views on ways to enhance anti-drug cooperation within the SCO, establishing cooperation with international and regional organisations in this area.
Vladimir Norov thanked Zeng Weixun for his active engagement during the high-level joint event of the United Nations and the SCO in the fight against illicit drug traffic "Countering Drug Trafficking via the Darknet" and expressed hope that China would continue to assist in further promoting cooperation between the relevant authorities of the SCO member states in this area.
The Secretary-General underscored China's role in the implementation of the SCO Anti-Drug Strategy for 2018-2023. In particular, he highlighted the timely practical initiatives put forward by Beijing to control the spread of cannabis, to organise rehabilitation and treatment of drug addicts, and to introduce modern technologies for the prevention of drug addiction, as well as to train and retrain qualified personnel from the relevant authorities in the SCO member states.
Vladimir Norov also informed Zeng Weixun about the progress of the SCO's external relations on the anti-drug track, including with UNODC and the Paris Pact initiative. Given the drug threat emanating from Afghanistan and the Golden Triangle region, the Secretary-General proposed exploring the possibility of establishing trilateral anti-drug cooperation in the SCO-UNODC-ASEAN format.
Zeng Weixun, in turn, noted that China attaches particular importance to cooperation within the SCO aimed at ensuring security, peace, stability and sustainable development, as well as the well-being of all peoples in the region. He assured the SCO Secretary-General that the Chinese side is ready to thoroughly review the SCO Secretariat proposals.
They agreed to meet at the SCO Secretariat in Beijing to continue the discussion on specific measures to combat drug trafficking in the SCO space.