SCO leaders emphasize political, diplomatic means to settle regional conflicts

Top leaders of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member countries said Friday that political and diplomatic means are the "only choice" to settle regional conflicts.

The presidents of six countries, namely China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, made the remarks in a joint communique issued after their annual summit in Kazakhstan.

Russian President Vladimir Putin at the expanded format meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. [Photo: Sputnik/Vladimir Astapkovich]

The leaders supported Afghanistan's efforts to combat terrorism, extremism and drug-related crimes, saying the United Nations should play a core role in coordinating international cooperation to secure peace and stability in the Asian country.

The six presidents urged extensive dialogues inside Syria to settle the current conflict through political means based on the UN Security Council resolutions, adding that the Astana Process will create necessary conditions to pursue a political solution to the Syria crisis within the framework of the UN-led Geneva talks that is acceptable for all parties concerned.

The top leaders affirmed the efforts made by all relevant parties to implement the comprehensive agreement on the Iranian nuclear issue reached between Iran and six other countries with the participation of the European Union.

They also eyed the full implementation of the Minsk agreement signed on Feb. 12, 2015 to solve the Ukraine crisis as early as possible.

Speaking of the bloc's first-time expansion, the heads of state said the decision to grant India and Pakistan SCO membership is historic, and will boost the organization's development potential.

They also agreed to enhance the SCO's role as an efficient and comprehensive regional bloc, so as to promote multilateralism and a community of shared destiny for mankind.

Welcoming Kazakhstan's election as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council in 2017-2018, the leaders said inter-governmental negotiations on the reform of the Security Council should seek a comprehensive solution based on extensive consultations, rather than set a deadline and force through plans that have not earned wide support among members.

On the fight against international terrorism, the leaders said a full-fledged UN convention and 19 comprehensive legal documents in this regard should be approved as soon as possible.

They also called for more cooperation among SCO countries in such areas as information security, anti-corruption, infrastructure and financial projects to support regional connectivity.

Specifically, the governments of SCO members should commit to facilitating cross-border transportation and road network construction, and furthering their cooperation in the fields of agriculture and customs, according to the communique.

The leaders encouraged the governments and business circles of the SCO observer states and dialogue partners to participate in the bloc's cooperation projects.

The presidents also vowed to enhance people-to-people and cultural exchanges within the bloc.

The next summit will be held in June 2018 in China, which will take the SCO's rotating presidency upon conclusion of this Astana meeting, said the communique.