Reception marking the SCO Secretariat’s 20th anniversary

On 22 February 2024, the SCO Secretariat in Beijing hosted an official reception marking the 20th anniversary of its founding as the main permanent executive body of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.

The 200 attendees included SCO Secretary-General Zhang Ming, Member of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China - Foreign Minister of the People’s Republic of China Wang Yi, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the country presiding in the SCO, Shakhrat Nuryshev, senior officials of Chinese state agencies, heads of diplomatic missions of the SCO member states in Beijing, representatives of regional organisations, the media as well as the leadership of the SCO Secretariat and its officials.

Opening the event, SCO Secretary-General Zhang Ming noted that, in the past 20 years, the Secretariat had made steady progress alongside the Organisation. The scope of the Secretariat’s work has expanded considerably since its inception. The Organisation honours the principles of the Shanghai Spirit, including mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, consultation, respect for different civilisations and the goal of shared development. It promotes more intensive and more effective cooperation between states, encompassing political, security, economic, cultural and humanitarian issues, as well as international relations. It creates a new model of interaction based on solidarity and cooperation between countries with different social systems and development concepts, as well as openness and mutually beneficial contacts, inclusivity and mutual understanding.

Zhang Ming specially thanked the Government of the People’s Republic of China for providing the Secretariat with a comfortable office and outstanding amenities. He also thanked all member states for their multifaceted support for the Organisation’s activities.

In his remarks, Wang Yi emphasised that, in the past 20 years, the Secretariat, headed by the secretaries-general, has worked responsibly to implement joint understandings of the SCO heads of state, promote multilateral diplomacy and regional cooperation, and make a positive contribution to the SCO’s progress. He underscored the SCO’s important role in strengthening regional security, deepening practical cooperation and facilitating spiritual rapprochement among peoples and improving global governance.

Wang Yi noted that the SCO has always been a high priority of China’s foreign policy, and that China is ready to steadily work toward the Organisation’s initial goals together with all SCO partners. He added that China remains committed to solidarity and cooperation, and that it wants to strengthen the SCO for the sake of lasting peace and universal prosperity. He also reaffirmed that China’s support for the Organisation’s activities will remain consistent.

Shakhrat Nuryshev, whose remarks capped off the programme’s official portion, praised the role of the Secretariat, which professionally and effectively carries out its responsibilities and coordinates diverse interaction in the SCO region. He noted that their joint efforts have turned the SCO into an influential association that helps resolve an entire range of topical regional issues. The Ambassador concluded by expressing confidence that, with the comprehensive support of their SCO partners, Kazakhstan’s presidency will be well-organised and substantive, and the upcoming summit in Astana will provide a powerful new impetus for the SCO’s future progress.