The number of initiatives put forward by Uzbekistan in the SCO has reached 54, head of a department of the Institute for Strategic and Interregional Studies under the President Bahromjon Sotiboldiyev said, Trend reports citing Uzdaily.
The expert noted that so far Uzbekistan has chaired the SCO three times - in 2005-2006, 2009-2010 and 2015-2016.
“Over these periods, Uzbekistan has put forward 54 initiatives, most of them have been put into practice. For example, the creation of a regional anti-terrorist structure within the framework of the SCO is a proposal of our country, and this structure functions in Tashkent.
Another important initiative was the development of a mechanism for admitting new members to the SCO. After that, India and Pakistan became members of the organization. Iran is now at the stage of becoming a full member of the SCO.
It should be said that if the membership of India and Pakistan opened the doors of South Asia for the Organization, then the entry of Iran will open the doors of the Middle East.
The initiatives of Uzbekistan after 2017 serve to develop cooperation not only in the field of security, but also in the economic, transport and logistics, cultural, humanitarian, and tourism sectors,” the expert noted.