Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- Over the past two decades, the SCO has become an influential international organization playing a large role in ensuring safe and stable economic development and strengthening intercivilizational dialogue. This was stated in an interview with the correspondent of Xinhua Deputy Head of the Scientific and Educational Complex of Islam Karimov under the President of Uzbekistan, professor at the University of Journalism and Mass Communications Tursunali Kuziev.

In his opinion, the SCO is developing comprehensively, its international influence has grown significantly. The path of comprehensive cooperation and development, based on regional challenges and realities, improves the system of regional governance and contributes to the formation of a new type of international relations for solving global problems, the expert noted.

“In my opinion, the last 20 years have been a period of solidarity and interaction in the name of a common future between all SCO member states. The "Shanghai spirit" symbolizes full equality and mutual respect, the democratic and flexible nature of interstate cooperation within the SCO. Such a spirit of cooperation can become a point of attraction for a large number of countries with different civilizational characteristics of development,” he said.

“The efforts of China and President of the People's Republic of China Xi Jinping to develop the SCO are very important for making decisions that make it possible to realize the dreams and aspirations of all peoples of the SCO member states. China was the first to launch the Global Data Security Initiative, which aims to intensify efforts to build a peaceful, secure, open, collaborative and orderly cyberspace,” he said.

Kuziev noted that China supports the creation of a joint SCO working group on poverty reduction and is ready to share its positive experience in this area. In his opinion, the PRC and President Xi Jinping are making a great contribution to building an open, clean and prosperous world in which peace, common security and prosperity reign.

“The further development of the SCO presupposes adherence to the principles of deepening political dialogue at all levels between the SCO member states, regular meetings and consultations with the aim of fruitful development of mutually beneficial relations. To increase the international authority of the SCO, it is necessary to expand the network of partnerships and actively build up cooperation with observers, dialogue partners, the UN and other international organizations and associations,” the expert said.

T. Kuziev believes that the SCO should play a more active role in international and regional affairs. The situation in Afghanistan has an impact on the security and stability of a vast region. The SCO needs to effectively use the SCO-Afghanistan Contact Group to help restore peace in the country.

The professor noted that Tashkent invariably attaches great importance to this organization, which is a platform for an open and constructive dialogue. “We must not forget that the Republic of Uzbekistan is one of the founding states of the SCO. Uzbekistan has always taken an active part in the formation, strengthening of international authority, expansion of the SCO. Undoubtedly, in the future, Uzbekistan will do its utmost to promote the development of the organization's activities. There is no doubt about it,” T. Kuziev said.

He stressed that the Uzbek side views the SCO as an important instrument of cooperation in the fight against terrorism and extremism, drug trafficking and arms trade, organized crime and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, as well as in the development of mutually beneficial economic ties, partnership in the social, cultural and humanitarian spheres. The scientist noted that the headquarters of the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure / RATS / SCO is not accidentally located in Tashkent.

“President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev stressed that the SCO is at a new stage in its development. He came up with a number of topical initiatives aimed at further developing practical cooperation within the SCO. It is proposed to strengthen trade, economic and investment ties through the adoption of long-term documents on trade and economic cooperation in the SCO, to establish close cooperation to reduce poverty, to make joint efforts to combat the spread of dangerous infections,” Kuziev said.