The Founder of Peace and National Unity – Leader of the Nation, President of the Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon took part in the meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in Qingdao.

With the accession of India and Pakistan as full-fledged SCO members the meeting of the Council of SCO Heads of State this year took place in the composition of eight member states.

After a joint photo session, the leaders of Tajikistan, India, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia and Uzbekistan held a narrow-format meeting.

The summit agenda includes seeking for an effective way to respond to the global terrorism, enhancement of cooperation between the SCO member states addressing security, economy, cultural and humanitarian cooperation and other timely topical and regional issues being of mutual interest.

After a restricted meeting, the discussion continued in an expanded meeting that was joined by the heads of delegations of the SCO observer countries and international organizations, in particular the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, the Republic of Belarus, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Mongolia, high-level representatives of the United Nations, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the Collective Security Treaty Organization, the Commonwealth of Independent States, the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA), as well as experts.

In his delivered address the President of the country Emomali Rahmon expressed his thanks to President of the People’s Republic of China Xi Jinping and his Government for their very warm welcome and hospitality and highly assessed Chinese role on successful presidency of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.

The President of the country Emomali Rahmon drew the attention of the Heads of State and SCO observer countries to the issues of ensuring world peace and stability and stressed that we must regularly direct our joint efforts to strengthen peace, security and stability, as well as boosting trade, economic, cultural and humanitarian relations within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

It was emphasized the importance of strengthening joint collaboration to combat terrorism and extremism, illicit trade in weapons and drugs, to prevent the spread of radical ideology and other transnational organized crime. In this context, it was proposed to establish a separate structure - the Anti-Drug Strategy of the SCO member states and the Program of Action for its implementation.

In his substantial address the head of state Emomali Rahmon also expressed his opinion on Tajikistan’s position on solving global issues, further fruitful cooperation for the benefit of SCO member nations, promoting closer cooperation in law enforcement and defense, and finding solution to Afghan conflict with the aim of promoting regional security.

President Emomali Rahmon also drew the attention of Heads of State and SCO observed countries to the issues of trade and economic cooperation, the use of transportation/transit opportunities, hydropower resources, rehabilitation and reconstruction of railways and roads, the creation of regional transport corridors connecting to seaports, climate change, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, providing of SCO countries with generating clean energy.

In conclusion the head of state Emomali Rahmon proposed introducing innovative technologies to agricultural sphere for ensuring of food security of the countries. He also requested strengthening people-to-people relations and presentation of tourism opportunities.

The leaders of the SCO member countries following their address adopted 22 more joint documents.

Kyrgyzstan is taking over the rotating presidency of the SCO for 2018-2019.

On the sidelines of the meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the Founder of Peace and National Unity - Leader of the Nation, President of the Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon also held talks with the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev to discuss current issues of friendly relations and good-neighborliness.

It should be noted that during his working visit to the People's Republic of China, the President of the country Emomali Rahmon held a number of fruitful and sincere meetings with his counterparts in the SCO and its observer countries, in particular, the President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sooronbay Jeenbekov, the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin, the President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Ashraf Ghani, the President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan Mamnoon Hussain, the Chairman of the People's Republic of China Xi Jinping and Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi to discuss bilateral cooperation.