On 13 August 2020 SCO Secretary-General Vladimir Norov took part in a videoconference organised by the SCO Youth Council, Russia's Role in SCO Development. Denis Kravchenko, Deputy Chair of the Committee on Economic Policy, Industry, Innovative Development and Entrepreneurship of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation moderated the event.
The SCO Secretary-General directed the participants' attention to Russia's role in the establishment of the SCO and its contribution toward enhancing the Organisation. "As a founding nation of the Organisation, Russia has been serving as one of the key vehicles for furthering multilateral interaction within the SCO on such tracks as politics and security, trade, economic, cultural and humanitarian cooperation," Vladimir Norov noted.
He described the major stages in the Organisation's evolvement and how Russia had taken an active part in them. According to him, from the SCO's founding and continuing to this day, Russia has hosted four summits and three meetings of the Heads of Government Council. Overall, 66 key documents were adopted during these events including 40 documents at the heads of state level and 26 at the heads of government level, all targeting the SCO's continuing progress in the strengthening of its multilateral cooperation in politics, trade, the economy, culture and humanitarian areas, as well as in streamlining close interaction with leading international and regional organisations and raising the SCO's authority and influence in the world," he underscored.
The Secretary-General elaborated on the priorities of Russia's current SCO Presidency, which encompass all the areas of the Organisation's activities. He recalled that the Russian side initiated a number of important documents aimed at further increasing the SCO's role in key areas.
Vladimir Norov also reported on the results of major events of Russia's presidency in 2019 ̶ 2020, which is being conducted in a very complicated period. However, Russia has managed to fulfil much of its agenda.
In this context the Secretary-General informed the participants of preparations for meetings of the SCO's main bodies that will be held in Russia this year. Member state representatives of the SCO Secretariat, as well as experts of the respective ministries and agencies who meet via videoconference, will approve draft documents.
Denis Kravchenko stated that the world encountered one of the biggest challenges for the region and the world as a whole during Russia's presidency in the SCO. The spread of COVID-19 became a major threat for each of the SCO's countries. However, it is gratifying that the Organisation's mechanisms adapted to these new conditions during this tough moment while at the same time the member states displayed strong solidarity and unity by offering each other comprehensive help," he noted.
Denis Kravchenko also spoke to the videoconference participants about the SCO's
Youth Council activities during Russia' SCO presidency. In this manner he pointed out that "successful implementation of youth projects and initiatives has revealed the significance of working with young people and the need of large-scale and substantive youth events on current development issues."
Special Representative of the President of Russia on SCO Affairs Bakhtiyar Khakimov emphasised the importance of the SCO, which contributes to ensuring security and stepping up trade, economic and humanitarian cooperation. He said that Russia places high priority on enhancing multilateral cooperation within the SCO as well as on strengthening this unique platform for equal interaction. This message was stipulated in the Concept of the Foreign Policy of the Russian Federation.
Stages of the SCO's development and prospects for areas of major cooperation were analysed during the videoconference, as was Russia's role in this context. The participants raised the issue of the SCO's further progress following the pandemic. They stated that nearly 20 years of SCO history had proven that the Organisation is needed and exists not only as a political but also an economic platform for working out mutually acceptable approaches and coordinated practical steps to ensure sustainable development and implementation of the SCO's present potential.
The event was held as part of Russia's 2019 ̶ 2020 Presidency in the SCO. Participating in the videoconference were representatives of Russian ministries and agencies, including the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, as well as those of the embassies of Belarus, Kazakhstan, China, and Sri Lanka in Russia.