On 4 March 2025, Secretary-General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Nurlan Yermekbayev arrived on an official visit to the Republic of Uzbekistan. That same day, he met with Foreign Minister of Uzbekistan Bakhtiyor Saidov
The officials conducted a detailed exchange of opinions on a wide range of issues of the agenda, including preparations for high-level events during China’s chairmanship of the Organisation and more profound collaboration throughout the Year of Sustainable Development of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, proclaimed by the leaders of SCO member states.
The SCO Secretary-General thanked Uzbekistani authorities for their long-term and consistent support for the work of the Organisation. He emphasised the importance of effectively implementing the Uzbekistani side’s initiatives, proposed within the framework of the SCO, including efforts to streamline dialogue in the sphere of security, to encourage trade exchanges, to combat climate change, to promote investment and to enhance industrial ties.
Nurlan Yermekbayev informed the Minister about the fulfillment of agreements between the leaders of SCO member states on upgrading the Organisation’s activities and noted that the SCO Secretariat would continue to facilitate more effective collaboration. He also submitted multiple proposals, with the Uzbekistani side supporting them.
The Foreign Minister of Uzbekistan congratulated Nurlan Yermekbayev on his recent appointment to the post of SCO Secretary-General and shared Tashkent’s priorities during intra-SCO cooperation, including measures to facilitate security, enhance the new economic dialogue, trade and investment contacts, transport connectivity and more intensive “green development.” The Minister assured the SCO Secretary-General that Uzbekistan wanted to help fill the collaboration within the SCO with real content for the benefit of SCO member countries.