Priorities of the Russian Federation’s Presidency of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in 2008-2009

The Russian Federation considers that the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) has established itself as a regional organization of a new kind, one that aspires to large-scale cooperation for the benefit of its member-states and that it is open to equitable and mutually beneficial assistance for all the associated nations and multilateral organizations.

Russia regards the following as key objectives for the SCO in 2008-2009:

– further consolidation of SCO member-states in line with principles formalized by the SCO Charter and its other fundamental agreements;
– providing an entirely new impetus to joint efforts for safeguarding peace, security and sustainable development within SCO territory;
– combating terrorism, illicit drug trafficking and other types of cross-border crime;
– facilitating socio-economic development of SCO member-states and promoting mutual cultural cooperation;
– enhancing the international authority and influence of the SCO as an innovative, interstate organization and as an important element of the emerging multipolar world order.

Specific efforts to develop multilateral cooperation will aim to provide practical results for member-states and observer nations, to invigorate the SCO’s international activity and to expand the range of its partners in the Asia-Pacific region and the world as a whole.