Greetings on the 20th anniversary of SCO Secretariat

On Jan 15, 2004, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) established the SCO Secretariat, the main permanent body of the Organisation, in Beijing. On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Secretariat, messages of greetings have been delivered to the SCO Secretariat in Beijing from the foreign ministers of the SCO member states to Secretary-General Zhang Ming.

"On Jan 15, 2024, we mark the 20th anniversary of the Secretariat of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. I would like to take this opportunity to wholeheartedly congratulate the Secretary-General and all Secretariat employees," the message by China's Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi says. He noted that "since its establishment, the SCO has consistently adhered to the principles of the Shanghai Spirit and has achieved impressive progress in in political, economic and cultural cooperation, as well as in security. It serves as a model for regional and international cooperation and conducts important theoretical and practical research to foster new types of international relations and a shared-future community of humankind." The Chinese Foreign Minister also emphasised that "over the past 20 years, the Secretariat has remained committed to the goals and principles of the SCO Charter, continuously enhancing mechanisms and promoting cooperation potential. It has contributed to the implementation of agreements between heads of state of the SCO member states, and developed multilateral cooperation in the region. Through its journey from inception to maturity, while searching for its way to success, the Secretariat has made an important contribution to the development of the Organisation. Now, amidst rapid changes worldwide, the SCO is entering a new stage of development where the mission to maintain regional security and stability becomes more relevant and the responsibility for facilitating the development grows. The Secretariat will continue to play an important role in the development of the SCO." Mr Wang Yi also said that as the host country, China will continue to facilitate and support the work of the Secretariat.

The message from Kazakhstan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu reads, "Over the past two decades, the Secretariat has successfully fulfilled its crucial function of coordinating a wide range of activities aimed at enhancing mutual trust, friendship and neighbourliness within the Organisation. Under the leadership of the Secretary-General, the Secretariat, guided by the the unfaltering principles of the Shanghai Spirit, continues to make a significant contribution to maintaining political dialogue, expanding trade and economic interaction and deepening cultural and humanitarian ties between the SCO member states." The Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan expressed confidence that through collaborative efforts, the Organisation's potential will be fully realised to the benefit of the further sustainable development of the region.

In his message, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic Zheenbek Kulubaev states, "The establishment of the SCO Secretariat in January 2004 marked the completion of the Organisation's evoluction as it entered an entirely new stage of development. Since then, the SCO has achieved notable success in its work and become an influential regional structure. The Organisation, where the Secretariat plays an important role as a permanent executive body, should continue its steady advancement in order to provide an effective and working response to the current challenges and threats." The Foreign Minister of Kyrgyzstan expressedhis country's readiness to provide any assistance to the work of the SCO Secertariat.

Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan Jalil Abbas Jilani sent his greetings to the Secretary-General and the Secretariat team, as well as to all previous heads of the main permanent executive body of the SCO. In his message, he noted that "Pakistan admires the development and expansion of the SCO, and praises its important role in strengthening trust, stability and the development of economic cooperation in the Eurasian region. In this context, I appreciate the central coordinating role that the Secretariat has played over these years. The SCO has come a long way since its establishment, not only in terms of increasing the number of its member states, but also by expanding its areas of activity. I am confident that under your sound leadership, the SCO will continue to develop and achieve sustainable positive outcomes."

When congratulating the Secretary-General on the 20th anniversary of the SCO Secretariat, Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov noted that "In the recent years, through the conscientious, concerted and unanimous efforts of the multinational team, the Secretariat has established itself as an efficient permanent administrative body of the SCO. The Secretariat effectively facilitated the development of miltifaceted cooperation among the member states, ensuring reliable security and stability, sustainable development and prosperity in the region. The significant practical role of the Secretariat in international positioning of the SCO by building constructive interaction with its partner interstate associations, first of all the UN, CIS, CSTO, EAEU, ASEAN, CICA, as well as holding themed conferences, forums, art festivals and other image-building cultural events holds special importance in the current environment." Mr Lavrov wished the Secretariat team and the SCO Secretary-General abundant energy, strong health, the best of luck and continued professional success.

When heartily congratulating the Secretary-General and all Secretariat employees, Foreign Minister of the Republic of Tajikistan Sirojiddin Muhriddin emphasised that "The Secretariat plays an important role in coordinating interaction between the SCO member states on all issues of its packed agenda. Over the past two decades, it has employed many nationals from the member states who, due to their skills, have achieved impressive results on the foreign policy track and become high-level diplomats." He also confirmed the Tajikistan's commitment to providing every possible support to the SCO Secretary-General.

In his message of greetings, Foreign Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan Bakhtiyor Saidov noted that "The adoption of the historic decision by the heads of our states to launch the official SCO Secretariat on Jan 15, 2004 in Beijing laid a solid foundation for building and developing cooperation between the SCO member states in all areas of multilateral interaction. Being the main SCO permanent body, the Secretariat led by the Secretary-General continues to efficiently perform its duties and makes an important contribution to the development of our Organisation." Minister Saidov expressed hope that the active work of the Secretariat will continue to enhance the SCO's role and reputation.

Deputy Foreign Minister of India Dammu Ravi also sent a message of greetings, in which he noted that for the past 20 years, the Secretariat has provided efficient support to the SCO member states in organising various meetings and conferences. He thanked the Secretariat, led by the Secretary-General, for its support of India's chairmanship in the SCO Heads of State Council in 2022-2023, during which approximately 140 events were held. "As the SCO family continues to grow and accept new member states, observers and dialogue partners, we wish the Secretariat every success," the message by the Deputy Foreign Minister of India reads.

Ambassadors of the Kyrgyz Republic and the Russian Federation in China also sent congratulatory letters.

Greetings on the 20th anniversary of SCO Secretariat