10-th Session of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Forum. List of Participants.

Igor Morgulov, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation.

Dmitry Mezentsev, Secretary General, Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

Larisa Efremova, Deputy head of Rossotrudnichestvo.

Yevgeny Pastukhov

The author insists that cooperation in the sphere of security remains the main task of SCO. The achievements of recent 10 years as well as new threats and challenges for security are considered, the author argues for necessity to provide common for all members of SCO legal basis for further approaches to security issues in the region of Central Asia.

The article describes the possibilities of SCO expansion and its transformation from regional to global structure. The SCO development strategy and actual needs of organization are analyzed.The main attention is paid to Afghanistan and Iran. The ways of overcoming disproportions between political and economic activities within SCO are submitted for consideration.

The article describes the possibilities of SCO expansion and its transformation from regional to global structure. The SCO development strategy and actual needs of organization are analyzed.The main attention is paid to Afghanistan and Iran. The ways of overcoming disproportions between political and economic activities within SCO are submitted for consideration.

The main problem for SCO – security and new threats from Islamic State. Economic cooperation is also important, Tadjikistan already obtained certain benefits as far as its infrastructure is concerned.

Based on methods of comparative politological studies the article specifies four main correlations in SCO activities: level of global and regional impact and regional possibilities of impact; multilateral and bilateral cooperation; correlation between main spheres of activity (security, economics and investment, humanitarian cooperation); correlation between integration projects of SCO, EAU and Silk Road.

The article describes in detail all aspects of situation in Afghanistan and most recent trends of regional co-operation with a view of assistance being rendered to Afghanistan in combating narcotics, terrorism, restoring its agriculture, political transition to democracy. The projects of building transportation corridors from Central Asia via Afghanistan to the South Asia and Arabian Sea are discussed. Prospects of peace building require participation of Pakistan and India in the creation of secure environment in the region.

Peace and stability in Afghanistan are crucial for the economic potential not only of Central Asian region but Asia as a whole/ Possibilities of Pakistan to play a greater role in the SCO are under discussion in the paper. The author considers important economic issues (energy corridors from Turkmenistan to Pakistan via Afghanistan) and counter-terrorist struggle in Pakistan.

The problem discusses the approaches to security in Central Asian region, especially the threats of instability and Taliban activities in Afghanistan methods of joint resistance to terrorism and other evils. The differences in SCO members’ attitude towards India’s future participation in SCO agenda is being considered. The author doubts that SCO can be regarded as a security provider for the region, it is just an instrument of enhancing regional co-operation in various fields.

The paper deals with problems of interaction and mutual development of states within international organizations and economic-political strategic projects existing in Central Euarasia.

The paper discusses in detail general prospects and concrete routes of expansion of economic, financial, investment cooperation within SCO, in the author’s opinion this organization should become the main platform for construction of Silk Road Economic Belt.

The paper gives proof to necessity of broadening of economic cooperation between SCO member-states. Priority activities are formulated: creation of transport infrastructure and institutional basis for joint projects.

The article describes contradiction between enormous potential of SCO and absence of big-scale multilateral economic projects within this organization. The principles of co-operation and program of actions are not developed yet; they exist, in the author’s opinion in “manual management” regime. Without elaboration of adequate financial mechanisms the economic cooperation is difficult or even impossible to be sustained. Special attention should be focused at coordination of recently emerged different programs of integration (EAU, Silk Road economic belt).

The paper deals with different approaches to the creation of SCO Development Bank, principles of formation of nominal capital, the possibility of achieving compromise between member states is discussed.

The author considers the economics as the most perspective field of cooperation of Belarus and SCO countries. The cases of concrete projects successfully launched in Belarus together with member countries of SCO are demonstrated, as well as proposals for Belarus participation in the project of Silk Road Economic belt. Main indices of Belarus economic growth are presented. The country is interested in Eurasian integration from economical point of view. At the same time the country seeks cooperation with EU on socio-cultural preconditions, Foreign policy priorities are China and Kazakhstan. Belarus is interested in upgrading its level of participation in SCO and becoming an observer state.

The paper deals with regional cooperation of Novosibirsk region and city of Novosibirsk with SCO countries. The rich scientific, technical and educational potential as well as its geographical position can be considered as optimal place for all sorts of activities within SCO. Submitted for experts’ consideration are various proposals.

The paper provides the examples of some big-scale events held in Russia within the framework of SCO Youth Council, the story is followed by discussion how to improve the work of youth public organizations.

The author argues for necessity of ecological cooperation within SCO, it should be based on the concept of “green economic growth“. He notes that in SCO countries (especially in China) ecological problems are being transformed from national to regional. Under consideration are the directions of possible ecological cooperation: water resources management, coordination of trading of quotas for greenhouse emissions, harmonization of ecological standards and exchange of green technologies SCO has the potential of becoming the main platform of solving ecological disputes in the region.

The possibilities of ecological cooperation within SCO countries are considered, a case of ash damps industrial waste utilization being as example. The actual cooperation between Russia and India in this field can turn into one of the joint economic projects for SCO if India becomes a full SCO member-state.

The author believes that economic cooperation is Mongolia’s priority in relations with SCO countries. Mongolia is interested in building transportation corridors to Central Asia and Russia. The article deals also with possibilities of banks and investments cooperation, cultural dialogue of SCO countries with Mongolia. Special attention is paid to the problem of security in the spheres of information and culture. Mongolia approves expansion of SCO.

The paper describes in detail the experience of international cooperation in Novosibirsk state technical university, mentioning the factors hindering implementation of new educational programs of exchange with China, cultural and educational projects of the university in SCO countries.

The paper discusses possibilities of development of youth parliamentarism on the platform of Siberian Insitute of Management (city of Novosibirsk). The examples of certain activities are proposed , they could be regarded as regional cooperation within SCO.

The paper provides analysis of pros and contras of SCO expansion in future. The international influence of the organization will be accompanied at the same time by new political and organizational problems, one of the main being the coordination of decisions on the basis of consensus.

Present paper examines India’s growing interest and role which it seeks to play in this Eurasian organization. India’s economic potential, vast experience and institutional capabilities can add greater value and share best practices in newer areas, the biggest challenge for India would be to adapt to the new geopolitical reality in the region.

The paper deals in detail with the purposes of creation and functioning of BRICS. The activities of BRICS and SCO are compared; the prospects of building new political, economic and financial architecture are examined. Dialogue of civilizations is expected to develop further under the auspices of international multilateral structures.

The paper discusses the benefits of Turkey’s cooperation with SCO countries. Turkey’s economic indices reveal the shift of trade volumes from Europe to Asia, the country is interested in free trade zones in the region and support most initiatives brought forward by China. Being the member of NATO Turkey seeks nevertheless fundamental security co-operation with adjacent states. Especially important for Turkey are relations with Afghanistan.

The paper examines terms and prospects for India to become full member-state SCO, different attitudes to this question in SCO. Changes of attitudes towards SCO in the Indian political establishment and public opinion are analyzed.

Factors of interest of Japan towards Central Asian and SCO countries as well as possibilities of inclusion of Japan into geopolitical agenda of SCO are analyzed. Prospects of interrelations in USA-Japan-China triangle are under examination in the paper.

Closing remarks.

The protocol of the 10th session of the SCO Forum.