Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) – President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev has outlined eight priority tasks facing the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).

The SCO Heads of State Council convened on 4 July in Astana, where President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev addressed the gathering.

The first task involves seeking new approaches to ensuring collective security amidst a global deficit of trust.

"We consider our Samarqand Initiative on solidarity in the interest of collective security and prosperity to be important," said the President of Uzbekistan.

"Adoption of the Code of Good-Neighborliness, Trust, and Transboundary Partnership by the SCO contributes to deepening dialogue and multilateral cooperation in new conditions," emphasized Mirziyoyev.

The second task is achieving a strategic breakthrough in the economic dimension.

"Our trade turnover with SCO member states increased by 20% last year and an additional 15% since the beginning of this year," stated the President of Uzbekistan.

"It is time to develop an Agreement on Simplification of Trade Procedures within the SCO framework. It could include joint measures to eliminate trade barriers, align technical regulations and certification, as well as phytosanitary and veterinary control systems," added the Uzbekistan’s head.

Shavkat Mirziyoyev noted that in light of global trends in cross-border e-commerce development, he proposed developing a Cooperation Program in this sphere integrating existing digital trading platforms.

The third task is supporting industrial cooperation programs.

"We propose developing a set of measures to stimulate mutual investments, primarily in infrastructure, high-tech industries, and the service sector. It is also important to develop mechanisms for financial support for such projects and revisit the issue of establishing the SCO Development Bank and Fund," stated the President of Uzbekistan.

"Fourth, effective development of the economic potential of our countries will be facilitated by forming an inclusive transport system along the East-West and North-South lines," he said.

"The diversity of transport corridors is a key condition for sustainable development of our entire region. We also propose developing a Plan for the digitization of logistics procedures, including organizing electronic data exchange on goods movement across borders," emphasized President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

The fifth task is expanding modern and reliable energy infrastructure across the SCO space.

"In Uzbekistan, we have adopted an extensive program for the advance development of ‘green’ energy, annually introducing about two gigawatts of solar and wind generation capacities. We have also started work on an industrial-scale ‘green’ hydrogen project," informed the Uzbekistan’s head.

Mirziyoyev proposed developing a comprehensive cooperation plan to stimulate investments and technologies into the renewable energy sector.

The sixth task is accelerated digital transformation.

"In our view, transitioning to a digital economy, implementing artificial intelligence, and advanced IT solutions play a key role in enhancing the competitiveness of our countries," emphasized the President.

"As part of knowledge exchange, experience, and best practices, we advocate for developing the ‘Future Technologies of SCO’ program," he added.

The seventh task is considering the possibility of adopting a "roadmap" for SCO countries’ cooperation in social development and protection.

Shavkat Mirziyoyev expressed confidence that implementing specific tasks to improve living standards and develop territories, especially in rural areas, will play a key role in achieving the Agenda goals by 2030.

The eighth task is developing a joint electronic platform, the "SCO Food Security Atlas."

According to the President of Uzbekistan, the platform will consolidate data on the agro-industrial potential of SCO countries regarding production and supply of agricultural products.