The Academy of Public Administration under the President of Tajikistan has launched an international conference titled “Central Asia – the Core of the SCO: 25 Years of Cooperation for Joint Development.” The forum is organized by Tajikistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in partnership with the Academy and the SCO Center for Friendship and Cooperation, Avesta reports.
The event gathered diplomats from SCO member states, observers, and dialogue partners, alongside scholars, political analysts, and educators, to reflect on the organization’s 25-year journey and discuss prospects for regional and international cooperation.
In his opening remarks, Tajikistan’s Foreign Minister Sirojiddin Muhriddin highlighted the SCO’s transformation into a powerful international body. He credited the organization’s enduring appeal to its founding principles—known as the “Shanghai Spirit”—which include mutual trust, equality, consensus, respect for cultural diversity, and a shared commitment to development.
“Thanks to this approach, we’ve created an atmosphere of trust in the heart of Eurasia, avoided confrontation, and developed an effective model of cooperation based on non-alignment and non-dominance,” the minister said.
Speakers noted that the idea of forming the SCO was first voiced in Dushanbe in 2000. Since then, Central Asia has played a central role in the organization’s growth. The 2000 Dushanbe Declaration of the “Shanghai Five” emphasized the aim of making Central Asia a region of peace, stability, and good neighborliness.
Special focus was placed on Tajikistan’s role as one of the SCO’s founding nations and a consistent contributor to its development. During Tajikistan’s chairmanship in 2021, SCO leaders officially recognized Central Asia as the geopolitical core of the organization.
Chinese Ambassador Ji Shumin emphasized China’s current SCO chairmanship under the motto “SCO in Action,” with a strong push to deepen cooperation across political, economic, and humanitarian fields. He also highlighted China’s initiative to establish four security centers in Dushanbe focused on threat response, cybersecurity, anti-transnational crime, and counter-narcotics.
Participants agreed that the SCO, now the world’s largest regional organization by geography and population, plays a key role in ensuring security, promoting sustainable development, and fostering intercultural dialogue.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
Juna 19, 2025