On 13 October 2026, at the International Conference Centre of Geneva (CICG), at the initiative of the United Nations University for Peace, a high-level panel session was held within the framework of the Geneva Peace Forum on the topic "Sustainable Peace in Central Asia: Lessons Learned from the Khujand Declaration of Eternal Friendship."
A discussion took place on the significance of the Treaty on the Junction Point of State Borders signed in March 2025 by the leaders of Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, and the Khujand Declaration of Eternal Friendship adopted following that meeting. It was views as an example of achieving sustainable peace in the region. Participants paid particular attention to the unique role of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation in ensuring stability and development in Central Asia.
The keynote address at the session was delivered by Deputy Secretary-General of the SCO Ahmad Saidmurodzoda. He emphasised that the SCO became the first regional organisation to issue a statement in support of the Khujand Declaration. "The SCO welcomed this achievement and called it an important step in strengthening mutual trust and good-neighbourly relations between the three member states. The statement particularly notes that the signing of the Treaty will make a significant contribution to ensuring peace and stability in the SCO space," the Deputy Secretary-General noted.
A. Saidmurodzoda stressed that Central Asia serves not only as the core but also as a semantic reference point for the development of the Organisation's proactive regional policy. In this regard, he noted that the further development of the SCO with the active role of Central Asia will continue to contribute to strengthening mutual trust and ensuring sustainable development.
The discussion also featured remarks by the Head of the United Nations University for Peace, David Puyana, the Executive Director of the Geneva Peacebuilding Platform, Anissa Bellal, as well as Ambassadors and Permanent Representatives to the United Nations Office at Geneva: Muratbek Azymbakiev (Kyrgyzstan), Sharaf Sheralizoda (Tajikistan) and Eldiyor Toshmatov (Uzbekistan).
On 1 April 2025, the SCO issued a Statement on the signing of the Treaty between the Kyrgyz Republic, the Republic of Tajikistan and the Republic of Uzbekistan on the junction point of state borders and the adoption of the Khujand Declaration of Eternal Friendship.
The University for Peace was established by the UN General Assembly by resolution 35/55 in 1980 as a specialised international institution of higher education in the field of peace.
The 2026 Geneva Peace Forum, held under the motto "Choose Peace," brought together representatives of political and academic circles, international organisations and civil society.