Treaty of long-term neighbourliness, friendship and co-operation entered into by and between the member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization


Whereas, the member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (hereinafter referred to as “the SCO”, or “the Organization”), namely, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the People’s Republic of China, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Russian Federation, the Republic of Tajikistan and the Republic of Uzbekistan, hereinafter referred to as “the Contracting Parties”;

are consolidated by the bonds of neighbourliness, friendship and cooperation, that go down into their history;

are governed by the aims and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, by the generally recognized principles and norms of international law, and by the Charter of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization of June 7, 2002;

are convinced that consolidation and intensification of neighbourliness, friendship and cooperation between the member states of the Organization serve the interests of their peoples and contribute to the cause of peace and development in the SCO member states and worldwide;

admit that the processes of globalization intensify interdependence of states, whereby their security and prosperity become inseparable;

believe that present-day challenges and security threats are global, and that their effective neutralization requires their joint efforts and agreed-upon principles and patterns of interaction;

realize the necessity for the respect of the cultural and civilization-related diversity of the present-day world;

affirm their willingness to intensify their mutually beneficial collaboration involving both the SCO member states and any other interested states and international organizations with a view to establishment of fair and reasonable world order designated to nurture a favorable environment for the sustainable development of the member states of the Organization;

further, affirm that this Treaty is not designated to oppose any states or organizations, and that the Contracting parties adhere to the principle of openness in respect of any state;

seek to convert the territory of the SCO member states into the territory of peace, co-operation, prosperity, and harmony;

are governed by the intention to facilitate democratization of international relations and establishment of the new global security structure based on parity, mutual respect, mutual trust and benefit, renunciation of any block-to-block and ideological opposition;

have the intent to cement friendly relations between the member states of the Organization to ensure that the friendship between their peoples is passed on from one generation to another;

have entered into this Treaty about the following:


Article 1

The Contracting Parties shall develop their long-term relations of neighbourliness, friendship and co-operation in the areas that are of interest to the Contracting Parties, acting in accordance with the generally accepted principles and norms of international law.

Article 2

The Contracting Parties shall peaceably resolve any disagreements arising between them, governed by the Charter of the United Nations and the generally accepted principles and norms of international law and the Charter of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization of June 7, 2002.

Article 3

The Contracting Parties shall respect the right of one another for the choice of their unique course of political, economic, social and cultural development with regard to the historical background and national peculiarities of each member state.

Article 4

The Contracting Parties respect principles of state sovereignty and territorial integrity, therefore, they shall prevent any activity that may be contrary to the above principles within their territories.
No Contracting Party shall (1) join any union and/or organization opposed to any other Contracting Party or (2) sponsor any acts that may be hostile in respect of any other Contracting Party.

Article 5

The Contracting Parties shall respect the principle of inviolability of borders; the Contracting Parties shall use their best efforts to deepen the mutual trust of their military authorities in the border territories to ensure that their common borders are the borders of eternal peace and friendship.

Article 6

In the event of development of any situation that may threaten the security of any Contracting Party, any Contracting Party may hold consultations with other Contracting Parties within the Organization in order to adequately respond to any security-threatening situation.

Article 7

The Contracting Parties, as the member states of the SCO, shall exert their efforts to maintain and consolidate international peace and security, to improve coordination and co-operation aimed at protection and consolidation of the position of the Organization of United Nations, maintenance of global and local stability, promotion of international control over the armaments, prevention of proliferation of any weapons of mass destruction and of their delivery vehicles, and to hold consultations on the above issues.

Article 8

Subject to the national laws of the Contracting Parties and of any generally accepted principles and norms of international law and any international treaties executed by the Contracting Parties, the Contracting Parties shall proactively develop their co-operation designated to prevent terrorism, separatism and extremism, illicit trafficking of drugs, psychotropic substances and their precursors, weapons, any other transnational acts of crime, as well as illegal migration.

Subject to the national laws of the Contracting Parties and of any international treaties executed by the Contracting Parties, the Contracting Parties shall develop their co-operation in detection, detention, and extradition of any persons suspected, accused or convicted of any crimes associated with terrorism, separatism and extremism and any other crimes.

The Contracting Parties shall develop their co-operation in the protection of state borders and customs control, regulation of labor migration, assurance of financial and information security.

Article 9

The Contracting Parties shall facilitate contacts and co-operation between the law enforcement and judicial authorities of the Contracting Parties.

Article 10

The Contracting Parties shall develop diverse co-operation between the ministries of state defense of the Contracting Parties.

Article 11

In pursuance of international responsibilities and national laws of the Contracting Parties, the Contracting Parties shall ensure their co-operation in promotion of human rights and fundamental freedoms.

In pursuance of their international responsibilities and national laws, the Contracting Parties shall guarantee the exercise in their territory of any legal rights and interests of any citizens of other Contracting Parties; the Contracting Parties shall also facilitate mutual provision of any legal assistance.

Article 12

The Contracting Parties shall acknowledge and protect their legal rights and interests in respect of any items of property of one Contracting Party located within the territory of another Contracting Party.

Article 13

The Contracting Parties shall promote their economic co-operation based on the equality of their rights and mutual benefits; they shall also ensure favorable conditions to facilitate any trade relationships, fundraising and exchange of technologies between the SCO member states.

Each Contracting Party shall facilitate any legal business operations to be performed in its territory by any natural persons and legal entities of other SCO member states, including the assurance of an appropriate legal framework towards this end.   

Each Contracting Party shall also assure protection in its territory of legal rights and interests of the aforementioned natural persons and legal entities.

Article 14

The Contracting Parties shall develop their co-operation within international financial institutions, economic entities and forums in which the Contracting Parties maintain their membership; also, acting in accordance with the provisions of the statutory documents of the above institutions, organizations and forums, the Contracting Parties shall assist other Contracting Parties in obtaining membership within the above organizations.

Article 15

The Contracting Parties shall develop their cooperation in the production sector, agriculture, finance, power generation, transportation, science and technology, innovations, information, telecommunications, airspace and other areas of mutual interest; the Contracting Parties shall also implement varied local projects.

Article 16

The Contracting Parties shall promote cooperation in legislation; the Contracting Parties shall ensure ongoing exchange of information on any draft laws that are proposed and passed, as well as of any effective laws.  The Contracting Parties shall also ensure cooperation in development of any documents of international law.

The Contracting Parties shall encourage any contacts and cooperation between their legislation authorities and their officers.

Article 17

The Contracting Parties shall develop cooperation in environmental protection, ecological safety, conservancy; the Contracting Parties shall facilitate development and implementation of specialized programs and projects in the above areas.

Article 18

The Contracting Parties shall assist and encourage one another in the prevention of natural and anthropogenic disasters and in the liquidation of their consequences.

Article 19

The Contracting Parties shall facilitate the implementation of any exchange programs and cooperation in arts, cultural events, education, science, technologies, health care, traveling, sports and other social and humanitarian areas.

The Contracting Parties shall encourage and promote the establishment of direct relationships between their artistic, educational, research and technology development institutions; implementation of joint research and development programs and projects, cooperation in personnel training, the implementation of any exchange programs involving students, scholars and specialists.

The Contracting Parties shall create a favorable environment designated to promote the languages and cultures of other Contracting Parties.

Article 20

This Treaty shall not impact any rights and responsibilities of any Contracting Party under any other international treaties that any Contracting Party has executed.

Article 21

In furtherance of their performance hereof, the Contracting Parties may enter into international treaties concerning specific areas of mutual interest.

Article 22

Any disputes arising in connection with interpretation and/or application of any provisions hereof, shall be resolved through bilateral consultations and negotiations between the Contracting Parties.

Article 23

This Treaty is subject to ratification by each Contracting Party as its signatory.

This Treaty shall be effective for an unlimited term; this Treaty shall be effective as of the date of deposition of the last ratification instrument within the depository.

This Treaty shall be effective for each Contracting Party as long as the Contracting Party maintains its membership within SCO.  Any Contracting Party shall cease to be party hereto as of the date of termination of its membership within SCO.

As of the entry into force of this Treaty, this Treaty may be joined by any member state of the Organization.  This Treaty shall be effective for any new signatory as of the thirtieth day of the date of deposition of an instrument of accession.

Article 24

Any amendments hereto shall be authorized by each Contracting Party.  Each amendment shall be made as a separate protocol.

Article 25

The original counterpart hereof shall be submitted to the depository. 

The Secretariat of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization shall act as the depository of this Treaty.  The depository shall address the certified copies hereof to each Contracting Party within fifteen days as of the date of execution of this Treaty.

Article 26

In pursuance of Article 102 of the Charter of the United Nations, this Treaty shall be subject to registration at the Secretariat of the Organization of the United Nations.

This Treaty is executed in the city of Bishkek on August 16, 2007, in one counterpart in the Russian and Chinese languages.  Both texts shall be equally valid.