Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) – A delegation from the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection, and Climate Change, led by Minister Aziz Abdukhakimov, participated in the SCO Green Development Forum held on 8-9 July in Qingdao, China.

The event saw participation from the Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, the Governor of Shandong Province, the Mayor of Qingdao, the Vice President of Iran, the Prime Minister of Myanmar, and the Deputy Speaker of the Azerbaijani Parliament. Additionally, environment ministers from SCO member and observer states, including Belarus, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Qatar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Egypt, Cambodia, the Maldives, and the UAE, along with diplomats, scientists, and representatives from leading international institutions and organizations attended.

At the forum’s opening, a message from Chinese President Xi Jinping, read by Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, Shen Yueyue, emphasized that environmental protection and green development are a consensus among SCO countries.

"China hopes to enhance exchanges and cooperation with all parties in green development through this forum, to promote sustainable socio-economic development of all countries, and to foster harmonious coexistence between humans and nature. We are ready to work with all parties to develop the ‘Shanghai Spirit’, strengthen cohesion and interaction, promote green development, jointly create a new chapter of common development, and build a closer community of shared destiny within the SCO," Xi Jinping noted in his message.

In his opening remarks, SCO Secretary-General Zhang Ming highlighted the importance of deepening cooperation in ecology and environmental protection among SCO countries. He outlined the organization’s approaches to creating a green environment, forming a healthy lifestyle, and ensuring sustainable development in the region. He also emphasized the achievements within the "SCO Year of Ecology 2024" and other mechanisms, calling for further strengthening of mutually beneficial cooperation to contribute to healthy, stable, and sustainable development.

In his speech, Aziz Abdukhakimov urged SCO member states to support the initiative of developing a Cooperation Agreement in combating climate change with concrete measures to achieve common green development goals proposed by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev at the SCO Heads of State Council. He also encouraged active participation in establishing and operating the SCO Center for Innovative Climate Solutions in Tashkent, aimed at conducting in-depth research on ecological sustainability and green growth.

During the event, the Uzbek delegation participated in a high-level panel session on major environmental challenges and SCO countries’ practices in addressing them. The participants were informed about the field visit by the Ministry’s delegation before the Forum to study China’s positive experience in combating desertification, soil desalination and disinfection, and sand movement control.

In the session, Aziz Abdukhakimov proposed widely disseminating the successful practices of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and establishing a Unified Center for Combating Desertification for SCO member states in Uzbekistan.