Secretary-General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Zhang Ming took part and spoke at a meeting of special representatives for Afghanistan, which took place under the auspices of UN Secretary- General Antonio Guterres on Feb 18-19, 2024, in Doha, Qatar.

The meeting brought together 35 delegations, including representatives from all SCO member states, four SCO dialogue partners, as well as the US, France, Germany, and regional organisations (SCO, OIC, EU).

The main goal of the conference was to seek a more structured, coordinated and organised algorithm of interaction between Afghanistan and the international community.

In his speech, Zhang Ming outlined the SCO's firm position on Afghanistan. He emphasised that the situation in Afghanistan poses a collective challenge that demands careful attention from the international community. He called for collaborative efforts to explore effective ways and means to address the issue. The SCO is ready to continue cooperation on these matters within its competence and welcomes initiatives aimed at protecting the interests of the entire Afghan population.

The meeting participants discussed the current developments in Afghanistan, articulated their positions and exchanged opinions regarding the ways to facilitate the settlement of the Afghan issue. During his visit to Doha, the SCO Secretary-General also met with State Minister for Foreign Affairs of Qatar Soltan bin Saad Al-Muraikhi. The talks focused on Qatar's role as an SCO dialogue partner across various areas of cooperation within the organisation, including matters related to Afghanistan.