On 14 July 2020, SCO Secretary-General Vladimir Norov had a meeting at the SCO Secretariat with Ambassador of the Swiss Confederation to China Bernardino Regazzoni at the Swiss diplomat's initiative.
Bernardino Regazzoni updated the SCO Secretary-General on the measures against the coronavirus infection taken in Switzerland.
Vladimir Norov pointed out that the world was amid a critical period in connection with COVID-19. The impact of the epidemic has reaffirmed the importance of international cooperation. "During the crisis, the SCO member states exchanged humanitarian assistance, experience and information, as well as experts and doctors. All of this has become possible thanks to close cooperation and a high level of solidarity and mutual support between them. It was a superb example of the Shanghai Spirit," the SCO Secretary-General noted.
He informed the Swiss Ambassador about the Organisation's activities in politics, security, transport, tourism, trade and economic ties, as well as youth policy.
Vladimir Norov added that the SCO countries had achieved commendable results in the joint fight against terrorism, extremism and trafficking in prohibited drugs and psychotropic substances. The SCO countries have adopted a great number of documents in these spheres, have created an effective inclusive system of the concerned SCO ministries and agencies and regularly hold joint events.
The SCO leader pointed out the positive trends in the development of the SCO Secretariat's cooperation with specialised UN bodies and other international and regional organisations. He cited the example of joint events and projects implemented with the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, ESCAP and other organisations, as well as plans for the implementation of joint memorandums with the FAO, the World Tourism Organisation and other establishments as well.
Bernardino Regazzoni expressed his appreciation of the SCO activities aimed at maintaining peace and stability in the region and its efforts to find the best possible solutions on a broad range of topics in the SCO space.
The Ambassador added that the increasingly intensive ties between the SCO and the UN showed that these organisations held similar views and interests on the majority of international topics on the global agenda.