Outcomes of the Twenty-Third Meeting of the SCO Heads of Government Council 15-16 October 2024, Islamabad
The Twenty-Third Meeting of the SCO Heads of Government Council (Prime Ministers), held in Islamabad on 15-16 October 2024, became an important milestone for the development of multilateral cooperation within the Organization. Key decisions that will set the vector for the development of the SCO in the coming years were discussed and adopted at this event. Let us consider the main aspects of this meeting, focusing on the role of Kazakhstan and China’s chairmanship in 2024-2025.
The Role of Kazakhstan in the SCO
The Republic of Kazakhstan, being an active and influential member of the SCO, completed its chairmanship in the Organization in 2023-2024. The communiqué emphasizes the high assessment given by the heads of delegations to the chairmanship of Kazakhstan, especially the results achieved at the meeting of the SCO Heads of Government Council in Astana on 4 July 2024. Kazakhstan has demonstrated its ability to effectively coordinate multilateral efforts, promoting the development of key areas of cooperation, such as the economy, security, energy and ecology.
One of the most significant contributions of Kazakhstan to the activities of the SCO is the active promotion of initiatives in the energy sector. During its chairmanship, the Strategy for the Development of Energy Cooperation until 2030 was adopted, which reflects the special role of Kazakhstan as a key partner in matters of cross-border energy infrastructure and ensuring energy security in the region. The communiqué also mentions the results of the Meeting of Energy Ministers in Astana (June 21, 2024), which confirms Kazakhstan’s leadership in this area.
In addition, Kazakhstan actively participated in environmental initiatives. The communiqué particularly emphasizes the results of work on environmental cooperation, including the holding of the SCO Year of Ecology in 2024, which is in line with Kazakhstan’s strategy in the field of sustainable development and environmental protection. The SCO Green Belt program, developed with the participation of Kazakhstan, will be an important step towards solving global environmental challenges.
The next important stage is the chairmanship of the People’s Republic of China in the SCO in 2024-2025. The communiqué emphasizes the support of all SCO member states for the People’s Republic of China as the new chair of the Organization. This decision opens up new opportunities for strengthening cooperation between the participating countries and promoting initiatives aimed at the sustainable development of the region.
One of the central tasks of the PRC chairmanship will be to promote the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which is also reflected in the communiqué. Kazakhstan, being an active participant in this project, is already cooperating with China in the framework of the alignment of the development of the Eurasian Economic Union and the BRI. Further cooperation in this area will contribute to the development of infrastructure, trade and transport corridors within the SCO.
In addition, China, in its chairmanship, focuses on technological development, the digital economy and innovation, which is also reflected in the communiqué. This opens up new prospects for Kazakhstan in matters of cooperation in the field of digital technologies and artificial intelligence. The steps mentioned in the communiqué to develop scientific and technical cooperation, startups and innovations, including the adoption of a roadmap on artificial intelligence, are in line with the interests of Kazakhstan as an active participant in the digital transformation.
For Kazakhstan, as one of the key participants in the SCO, China’s chairmanship will open up new opportunities for strengthening bilateral cooperation and implementing joint projects. As part of the PRC’s chairmanship, initiatives aimed at expanding economic interaction, developing connectivity and stimulating investment cooperation will be continued, which is in line with the interests of Kazakhstan in the context of its strategic position on the Great Silk Road.
It is also worth noting the importance of initiatives in the field of food security and agriculture, which play an important role for Kazakhstan as a leading exporter of agricultural products. During China’s chairmanship, Kazakhstan can benefit from cooperation programs in this area and strengthen its position in the markets of the SCO countries.
The communiqué of the twenty-third meeting of the SCO Heads of Government Council emphasizes the important role of Kazakhstan in promoting initiatives in the fields of energy, ecology and multilateral cooperation. Having successfully completed its chairmanship of the SCO, Kazakhstan retains its key positions in the organization. At the same time, China’s chairmanship in 2024-2025 opens up new opportunities for cooperation, especially within the framework of the BRI initiative, digital economy and innovative technologies.
China Studies Center, Astana
