Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- On 28 October 2020, in the format of a video conference chaired by the Republic of India, the 19th Meeting of Ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states responsible for foreign economic and foreign trade activities was held.

The participants of the Meeting considered a wide range of issues of further development of regional economic cooperation and exchanged views on the state and prospects of trade, economic and investment cooperation in the SCO space.

The heads of delegations approved the draft Action Plan for 2021-2025 on the implementation of the Program of Multilateral Trade and Economic Cooperation of the SCO Member States and recommended that the Secretariat of the organization submit the draft Plan for approval at the upcoming meeting of the Council of Heads of Government of the SCO Member States. 

In addition, the meeting participants approved the draft Concept of Cooperation of the SCO Member States on the Development of Remote and Rural Areas in the Digital Age and recommended that the Secretariat submit a document for approval at the next meeting of the Council of Heads of SCO Member States, scheduled for November 10, 2020.

Also within the framework of the agenda of the Meeting, statements were approved by the ministers of the SCO member states responsible for foreign economic and foreign trade activities, on measures to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and support the multilateral trading system, as well as an action plan for the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding to stimulate cooperation within the SCO in the field of micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises between the relevant ministries of the Organization’s member states.

The practical aspects of the implementation of initiatives to create special working groups for poverty reduction and start-up development are considered separately.

At the end of the event, the participants outlined the importance of further strengthening cooperation between the SCO member states in such areas as trade, investment, transport and logistics, tourism, agriculture, industry, energy, information and communication technologies, science, ecology and environmental protection and protection. intellectual property.

The next Ministerial Meeting will take place in 2021.