Photos courtesy of the MFA
MINSK, 15 July (BelTA) – Belarusian Minister of Foreign Affairs Maksim Ryzhenkov took part in a meeting of the SCO Foreign Ministers Council for the first time since Belarus acquired full-fledged membership in the organization, BelTA learned from the press service of the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
In his speech during the meeting, the head of the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs thanked the Chinese side for the successful chairmanship of the SCO and for the hospitality, noting an abundance of new practical initiatives, in most of which Belarus took an active part.
Maksim Ryzhenkov emphasized that Belarus' first year of membership in the SCO confirmed the correctness of the country's strategic course towards joining the organization. He stated that Belarus intends to make a significant contribution to the activities of the SCO, using its transit, industrial and scientific potential.
The minister also announced Belarus' readiness to become a permanent venue for the SCO’s specialist events, to contribute to trade facilitation, digital economy, financial infrastructure, cooperation in the field of green industry and artificial intelligence within the framework of the Organization.
The head of the Belarusian delegation emphasized Minsk's commitment to the "Shanghai spirit" based on mutual respect, equality and solidarity. He also noted that the accession to the SCO of states that disregard its principles or transfer bilateral problems to its platform is inappropriate and harmful.
Another important area of work for the SCO could be its interaction with other regional international forums, including the EAEU. In this context, Maksim Ryzhenkov recalled the initiative of Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko to create a global transit hub in Eurasia.
In addition, taking into account the original mission of the SCO, namely ensuring regional security, the head of Belarusian diplomacy proposed to more actively involve the SCO as the main platform for discussing the provisions of the Eurasian Charter of Diversity and Multipolarity in the 21st Century.
Following the meeting, Maksim Ryzhenkov signed the minutes of the meeting of the SCO Foreign Ministers Council and a number of decisions necessary to prepare the upcoming SCO summit.
The Belarusian minister also held a number of bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the event. For example, Maksim Ryzhenkov met with Muhammad Ishaq Dar, the Deputy Prime Minister - Minister of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan, to discuss the state and prospects of bilateral cooperation between Belarus and Pakistan, the development of cooperation within international organizations and a schedule of visits at the highest and high levels.
Maksim Ryzhenkov also held working meetings with the foreign ministers of China, India, Russia, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and the Secretary General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
In his speech during the meeting, the head of the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs thanked the Chinese side for the successful chairmanship of the SCO and for the hospitality, noting an abundance of new practical initiatives, in most of which Belarus took an active part.
Maksim Ryzhenkov emphasized that Belarus' first year of membership in the SCO confirmed the correctness of the country's strategic course towards joining the organization. He stated that Belarus intends to make a significant contribution to the activities of the SCO, using its transit, industrial and scientific potential.
The minister also announced Belarus' readiness to become a permanent venue for the SCO’s specialist events, to contribute to trade facilitation, digital economy, financial infrastructure, cooperation in the field of green industry and artificial intelligence within the framework of the Organization.
The head of the Belarusian delegation emphasized Minsk's commitment to the "Shanghai spirit" based on mutual respect, equality and solidarity. He also noted that the accession to the SCO of states that disregard its principles or transfer bilateral problems to its platform is inappropriate and harmful.
Another important area of work for the SCO could be its interaction with other regional international forums, including the EAEU. In this context, Maksim Ryzhenkov recalled the initiative of Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko to create a global transit hub in Eurasia.
In addition, taking into account the original mission of the SCO, namely ensuring regional security, the head of Belarusian diplomacy proposed to more actively involve the SCO as the main platform for discussing the provisions of the Eurasian Charter of Diversity and Multipolarity in the 21st Century.
Following the meeting, Maksim Ryzhenkov signed the minutes of the meeting of the SCO Foreign Ministers Council and a number of decisions necessary to prepare the upcoming SCO summit.
The Belarusian minister also held a number of bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the event. For example, Maksim Ryzhenkov met with Muhammad Ishaq Dar, the Deputy Prime Minister - Minister of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan, to discuss the state and prospects of bilateral cooperation between Belarus and Pakistan, the development of cooperation within international organizations and a schedule of visits at the highest and high levels.
Maksim Ryzhenkov also held working meetings with the foreign ministers of China, India, Russia, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and the Secretary General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
Follow us on:
