SCO safeguards security, development

The gold-mirrored 22-meter-diameter sphere shining above the 97-meter-tall observation deck of Baiterek Tower signifies the importance of the Kazakh capital of Astana as a new metropolis on the ancient land of Central Asia. Astana is hosting the 24th Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit.

Kazakhstan, as the SCO chair since 2023, has identified six priority areas — security, trade and economy, energy cooperation, digital technology development, environmental protection, and cultural and humanitarian relations — and has dedicated the Astana summit to strengthening multilateral dialogue, maintaining peace and promoting development in the region.

At the ongoing summit, participants are expected to sign more than 20 documents on security and trade, including the renewal of the Program of Cooperation on Countering Terrorism, Separatism and Extremism for 2025-27, and the SCO Anti-Drug Strategy for 2024-29.