SCO Foreign Ministers discuss situation in Afghanistan, fight against terrorism, COVID-19 response

AKIPRESS.COM - The meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Foreign Ministers Council was held on July 13-14 in Dushanbe. Tajik Foreign Minister Sirojiddin Muhriddin presided at the event.
The Foreign Ministers exchanged views on outcomes of SCO activities for 20 years and discussed tasks on further development of cooperation, considered relevant international and regional issues.
The resolution was signed on consideration of the renewed cooperation program in fight against terrorism, separatism and extremism for 2022-2024 at the SCO Summit in Dushanbe.
A particular attention was paid to the situation in Afghanistan. The sides expressed deep concerns about prospects of deterioration of the security situation in connection with withdrawal of international coalition forces from Afghanistan.
The countries considered issues of further deepening of economic cooperation. The Foreign Ministers endorsed the plan of joint measures to address negative socio-economic implications of COVID-19 pandemic.
The SCO Foreign Ministers exchanged views on expansion of SCO dialogue partners. The decisions on granting such status to Saudi Arabia and Egypt were signed. The SCO Summit will consider these decisions in September.