NURLAN YERMEKBAYEV
Secretary-General
Date of birth: 1 January 1963
Place of birth: Chimkent, Kazakh SSR
Marital status:
Married
Two children
Language skills:
Kazakh, Russian, English, Chinese
Education:
Order of the Red Banner Military Institute of the Soviet Defence Ministry (Moscow), graduated with distinction (1981‒1986)
Officer of command personnel (Chinese and English languages) The Kazakh State Architectural and Civil Engineering Academy, by extra-mural education (1996)
Engineer-Economist
Faculty of the General Staff Academy, National Defence University of the First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan/Yelbasy, Complete course in the Art of War
Academic titles, degrees, related activities:
Ph D (Candidate of Political Science)
Service record:
1981‒1991: Served in the Soviet Armed Forces;
1984‒1985: Served with a Soviet military mission in the People’s Republic of Angola;
1991‒1996: Worked with foreign trade organisations of Kazakhstan, including abroad;
1996‒1997: Adviser to the Board Chair of Almaty Merchant Bank LLC;
1999‒2001: Chief Representative of the People’s Savings Bank of Kazakhstan (Halyk Bank) in Beijing;
2001‒2003: Counsellor, Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the People’s Republic of China;
August 2003 – April 2004: Charge D’Affaires en pied/Head of the Diplomatic Mission of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Republic of Singapore;
April 2004 – January 2006: Head, Foreign Policy Centre, Administration of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan;
January 2006 – January 2007: Adviser to the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan and Head, Foreign Policy Centre, Administration of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan;
January 2007 – September 2010: Deputy Foreign Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan;
September 2010 – April 2012: Foreign Affairs Aide to the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan;
April 2012 – November 2014: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the People’s Republic of China, Part-Time Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (July 2012), Part-Time Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (October 2012 – November 2014);
November 2014 – September 2016: Assistant to the President/Secretary of the Security Council of the Republic of Kazakhstan;
September 2016 – April 2018: Minister of Religious and Civil Society Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan;
April 2018 ‒ August 2018: Assistant to the President/Secretary of the Security Council of the Republic of Kazakhstan;
August 2018 – August 2021: Defence Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Lieutenant General;
Since April 2022: Assistant Professor, Faculty of International Relations and World Economy, Kazakh National University (Part-Time);
January 2023 - December 2024: Deputy Secretary-General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation;
Since January 2025 — Secretary-General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
Has a diplomatic rank of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary. Professor Emeritus, National Defence University of the Republic of Kazakhstan Has been repeatedly awarded with national and international awards. Author of several dozen articles and co-author of the book Kazakhstan and Countries of the World.
Place of birth: Chimkent, Kazakh SSR
Marital status:
Married
Two children
Language skills:
Kazakh, Russian, English, Chinese
Education:
Order of the Red Banner Military Institute of the Soviet Defence Ministry (Moscow), graduated with distinction (1981‒1986)
Officer of command personnel (Chinese and English languages) The Kazakh State Architectural and Civil Engineering Academy, by extra-mural education (1996)
Engineer-Economist
Faculty of the General Staff Academy, National Defence University of the First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan/Yelbasy, Complete course in the Art of War
Academic titles, degrees, related activities:
Ph D (Candidate of Political Science)
Service record:
1981‒1991: Served in the Soviet Armed Forces;
1984‒1985: Served with a Soviet military mission in the People’s Republic of Angola;
1991‒1996: Worked with foreign trade organisations of Kazakhstan, including abroad;
1996‒1997: Adviser to the Board Chair of Almaty Merchant Bank LLC;
1999‒2001: Chief Representative of the People’s Savings Bank of Kazakhstan (Halyk Bank) in Beijing;
2001‒2003: Counsellor, Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the People’s Republic of China;
August 2003 – April 2004: Charge D’Affaires en pied/Head of the Diplomatic Mission of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Republic of Singapore;
April 2004 – January 2006: Head, Foreign Policy Centre, Administration of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan;
January 2006 – January 2007: Adviser to the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan and Head, Foreign Policy Centre, Administration of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan;
January 2007 – September 2010: Deputy Foreign Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan;
September 2010 – April 2012: Foreign Affairs Aide to the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan;
April 2012 – November 2014: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the People’s Republic of China, Part-Time Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (July 2012), Part-Time Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (October 2012 – November 2014);
November 2014 – September 2016: Assistant to the President/Secretary of the Security Council of the Republic of Kazakhstan;
September 2016 – April 2018: Minister of Religious and Civil Society Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan;
April 2018 ‒ August 2018: Assistant to the President/Secretary of the Security Council of the Republic of Kazakhstan;
August 2018 – August 2021: Defence Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Lieutenant General;
Since April 2022: Assistant Professor, Faculty of International Relations and World Economy, Kazakh National University (Part-Time);
January 2023 - December 2024: Deputy Secretary-General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation;
Since January 2025 — Secretary-General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
Has a diplomatic rank of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary. Professor Emeritus, National Defence University of the Republic of Kazakhstan Has been repeatedly awarded with national and international awards. Author of several dozen articles and co-author of the book Kazakhstan and Countries of the World.
BATIR TURSUNOV
SCO Deputy Secretary General
Born in 1974.
Education: Tashkent State University of Oriental Studies (1997) и Institute of Philosophy and Law of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan (2001).
Professional background:
2001-2005: Leading scientific fellow of the Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan;
2005-2007: First Secretary of the Department of Asia Pacific countries of the MFA, the Republic of Uzbekistan;
2007-2010: First Secretary of the Embassy of the Republic of Uzbekistan in the PRC;
2010-2013: Deputy Director of the Coordination-Analytical Center for Foreign Policy Studies under the MFA, the Republic of Uzbekistan;
2013-2014: Leading Consultant of the Office of the Security Council under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan;
2014-2019: Director of the Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan;
2019-2022: Minister-Counsellor of the Embassy of the Republic of Uzbekistan to the PRC, the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Uzbekistan to the SCO Secretariat;
2022-2022: Leading Consultant of the Administration of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan;
2022-2023: Deputy Director of the International Institute for Central Asia;
2023-2024: Minister-Counsellor of the Embassy of the Republic of Uzbekistan to the PRC, the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Uzbekistan to the SCO Secretariat;
From January 1, 2025 - present: Deputy Secretary General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
PhD in Philosophy, author of more than 25 scientific publications. Speaks Uzbek, Russian, English, Chinese. Has four children.
Education: Tashkent State University of Oriental Studies (1997) и Institute of Philosophy and Law of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan (2001).
Professional background:
2001-2005: Leading scientific fellow of the Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan;
2005-2007: First Secretary of the Department of Asia Pacific countries of the MFA, the Republic of Uzbekistan;
2007-2010: First Secretary of the Embassy of the Republic of Uzbekistan in the PRC;
2010-2013: Deputy Director of the Coordination-Analytical Center for Foreign Policy Studies under the MFA, the Republic of Uzbekistan;
2013-2014: Leading Consultant of the Office of the Security Council under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan;
2014-2019: Director of the Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan;
2019-2022: Minister-Counsellor of the Embassy of the Republic of Uzbekistan to the PRC, the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Uzbekistan to the SCO Secretariat;
2022-2022: Leading Consultant of the Administration of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan;
2022-2023: Deputy Director of the International Institute for Central Asia;
2023-2024: Minister-Counsellor of the Embassy of the Republic of Uzbekistan to the PRC, the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Uzbekistan to the SCO Secretariat;
From January 1, 2025 - present: Deputy Secretary General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
PhD in Philosophy, author of more than 25 scientific publications. Speaks Uzbek, Russian, English, Chinese. Has four children.
OLEG KOPYLOV
SCO Deputy Secretary General
Born 5 September 1978.
Education:
2000: Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO-University) (International Relations, Oriental Department);
2001: Institute of World Economy, Russian Academy of Sciences.
Career:
Joined Russia's Foreign Ministry in 2000. Held various posts in the MFA Headquarters and diplomatic missions overseas.
2000-2002: First CIS Department, MFA of Russia;
2002-2006: Russian Embassy in Ukraine (Deputy Chief/Chief, Economic Section);
2006-2009: Department of Asia-Pacific Cooperation, MFA of Russia;
2009-2014: Russian Embassy in Indonesia (Chief, ASEAN Section, Political Section; Co-Chair, ASEAN-Russia Joint Planning and Management Committee; Policy Advisor, ASEAN-Russia Business Council);
2014-2016: Information and Press Department, MFA of Russia (Head of Division (policy issues));
2016-2022: Russian Embassy in Indonesia (Deputy Head of Mission);
2022-2024: United Nations (Chief of Service, Asia and the Pacific, Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs/Department of Peacekeeping Operations);
July 2024 - present: Shanghai Cooperation Organization (Deputy Secretary-General).
Scope of professional interest - Asian and Asia-Pacific affairs. Author of/contributor to various publications and tutorials devoted to the regional integration processes.
Visiting expert, ASEAN Centre in MGIMO-University.
Contributor to the research project "Southeast Asia - Issues of Development", Institute of Oriental Studies, Russian Academy of Sciences.
Speaks Russian, English, Indonesian and Urdu.
Education:
2000: Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO-University) (International Relations, Oriental Department);
2001: Institute of World Economy, Russian Academy of Sciences.
Career:
Joined Russia's Foreign Ministry in 2000. Held various posts in the MFA Headquarters and diplomatic missions overseas.
2000-2002: First CIS Department, MFA of Russia;
2002-2006: Russian Embassy in Ukraine (Deputy Chief/Chief, Economic Section);
2006-2009: Department of Asia-Pacific Cooperation, MFA of Russia;
2009-2014: Russian Embassy in Indonesia (Chief, ASEAN Section, Political Section; Co-Chair, ASEAN-Russia Joint Planning and Management Committee; Policy Advisor, ASEAN-Russia Business Council);
2014-2016: Information and Press Department, MFA of Russia (Head of Division (policy issues));
2016-2022: Russian Embassy in Indonesia (Deputy Head of Mission);
2022-2024: United Nations (Chief of Service, Asia and the Pacific, Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs/Department of Peacekeeping Operations);
July 2024 - present: Shanghai Cooperation Organization (Deputy Secretary-General).
Scope of professional interest - Asian and Asia-Pacific affairs. Author of/contributor to various publications and tutorials devoted to the regional integration processes.
Visiting expert, ASEAN Centre in MGIMO-University.
Contributor to the research project "Southeast Asia - Issues of Development", Institute of Oriental Studies, Russian Academy of Sciences.
Speaks Russian, English, Indonesian and Urdu.
SHRI JANESH KAIN
SCO Deputy Secretary General
Born: 17 April 1982
Education:
Graduated from Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi as Bachelor of Technology in Electronics Engineering
Work Experience:
Joined the Indian Foreign Service in 2006,
2006-2007: Training at Foreign Service Institute, New Delhi.
2007-2008: Worked in the External Publicity & Public Diplomacy [XPD] Division & Policy, Planning & Research (PP&R) Division.
2008-2013: Worked in the Embassy of India, Russia as Third Secretary (Language Trainee), Second Secretary (Political) and First Secretary (Political).
2013-2016: Worked in High Commission of India, Islamabad as First Secretary, Head of the Consular and Visa Wing.
2016-2019: Worked as Director (Afghanistan) in the Ministry of External Affairs, Republic of lndia dealing with issues pertaining to Afghanistan-India relations.
2019-2021: Worked as Deputy High Commissioner and Commercial Representative in High Commission of India, Mauritius.
Personal:
He is proficient in Hindi, English, Urdu, Punjabi and Russian. Married, with two children.
Education:
Graduated from Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi as Bachelor of Technology in Electronics Engineering
Work Experience:
Joined the Indian Foreign Service in 2006,
2006-2007: Training at Foreign Service Institute, New Delhi.
2007-2008: Worked in the External Publicity & Public Diplomacy [XPD] Division & Policy, Planning & Research (PP&R) Division.
2008-2013: Worked in the Embassy of India, Russia as Third Secretary (Language Trainee), Second Secretary (Political) and First Secretary (Political).
2013-2016: Worked in High Commission of India, Islamabad as First Secretary, Head of the Consular and Visa Wing.
2016-2019: Worked as Director (Afghanistan) in the Ministry of External Affairs, Republic of lndia dealing with issues pertaining to Afghanistan-India relations.
2019-2021: Worked as Deputy High Commissioner and Commercial Representative in High Commission of India, Mauritius.
Personal:
He is proficient in Hindi, English, Urdu, Punjabi and Russian. Married, with two children.
SHUKHRAT SOBIRZODA
SCO Deputy Secretary General
Born on September 27, 1973 in the Republic of Tajikistan. Tajik.
Education:
Technological University of Tajikistan (1995)
Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia (2001)
Career:
1998-1999 — Attache of the Asia and Africa Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan.
2001-2004 — Third Secretary of the Asia and Africa Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan.
2004-2007 — Expert of the first category of the SCO Secretariat.
2007-2010 — Second Secretary of the Asia and Africa Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan.
2010-2013 — Second Secretary of the Embassy of the Republic of Tajikistan in the Kyrgyz Republic.
2013-2017 — First Secretary, Advisor to the Legal Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan.
2017-2020 — Advisor to the Embassy of the Republic of Tajikistan in China, Permanent Representative of Tajikistan to the SCO Secretariat.
2020 — 2022 — Head of the SCO Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan.
Since February 25, 2022 — Deputy Secretary General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
State awards: Diploma of the Republic of Tajikistan.
The diplomatic rank is Second Class Advisor.
Married, four children.
Education:
Technological University of Tajikistan (1995)
Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia (2001)
Career:
1998-1999 — Attache of the Asia and Africa Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan.
2001-2004 — Third Secretary of the Asia and Africa Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan.
2004-2007 — Expert of the first category of the SCO Secretariat.
2007-2010 — Second Secretary of the Asia and Africa Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan.
2010-2013 — Second Secretary of the Embassy of the Republic of Tajikistan in the Kyrgyz Republic.
2013-2017 — First Secretary, Advisor to the Legal Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan.
2017-2020 — Advisor to the Embassy of the Republic of Tajikistan in China, Permanent Representative of Tajikistan to the SCO Secretariat.
2020 — 2022 — Head of the SCO Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan.
Since February 25, 2022 — Deputy Secretary General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
State awards: Diploma of the Republic of Tajikistan.
The diplomatic rank is Second Class Advisor.
Married, four children.
SOHAIL KHAN
SCO Deputy Secretary General
Born in 1960. Graduated from John Hopkins University （USA）
Fluent Urdu, English and Russian.
Work Experience:
1990-2000 — Third, Second Secretary of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in Moscow;
2000-2003 — Director of the 3rd Department of Europe of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan;
2003-2008 — First Secretary of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in Washington;
2008-2013 — Director General of the Department of Foreign Policy Planning, the Department of Protocol and the Department of America of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan;
2013-2017 — Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to the Kingdom of Thailand;
2017-2020 — High Commissioner of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to the Republic of South Africa;
Since May 18, 2022 — Deputy Secretary General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
Has diplomatic rank of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary.
Fluent Urdu, English and Russian.
Work Experience:
1990-2000 — Third, Second Secretary of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in Moscow;
2000-2003 — Director of the 3rd Department of Europe of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan;
2003-2008 — First Secretary of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in Washington;
2008-2013 — Director General of the Department of Foreign Policy Planning, the Department of Protocol and the Department of America of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan;
2013-2017 — Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to the Kingdom of Thailand;
2017-2020 — High Commissioner of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to the Republic of South Africa;
Since May 18, 2022 — Deputy Secretary General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
Has diplomatic rank of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary.