SCO is all about spirit of friendship and cooperation

Addressing the 22nd Meeting of the Council of the Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in Samarkand on Sept 15, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev said: "During our chairmanship, we (have) sought to intensify practical cooperation within our organization to increase its potential and international prestige. Along with security issues, priority was given to enhancing trade, economic, and humanitarian cooperation."

SCO countries account for half of the world's population and at least 25 percent of the world's GDP. During the meeting in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, leaders discussed issues such as trade, connectivity, food security, sustainable development, people-to-people exchanges. Their discussions were focused on finding ways to overcome global challenges such as climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic.

On the sidelines of the SCO summit, the Uzbek and Chinese sides signed agreements worth $15 billion, and Chinese President Xi Jinping became the first foreign leader to get Uzbekistan's "Supreme Friendship" Medal. Also, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and China signed a historic tripartite agreement on a feasibility study on a railway project.