On 31 March 2023, Kazakhstan chaired a round of expert consultations of representatives of SCO member states in Astana. The meeting focused on measures to enhance the Organisation’s performance, in line with a decision by the SCO Heads of State Council, adopted in Samarkand in September 2022.
Attendees included national coordinators, representatives of specialised ministries and agencies, senior officials from the SCO Secretariat and the Executive Committee of the SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure.
Deputy Foreign Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kanat Tumysh opened the consultations.
The meeting participants spoke about their vision of possible options for improving the SCO’s performance and exchanged opinions on future joint steps. SCO Deputy Secretary-General Nurlan Yermekbayev set forth the SCO Secretariat’s position that prioritises the institutional adaptation of the Organisation’s main permanent body to new demands and realities.
The heads of delegations signed a protocol formalising the results of the consultations.