According to Maxim Ryzhenkov, Belarus, working within the SCO, always puts forward relevant initiatives to strengthen cooperation among member states across a wide range of issues. «This includes cross-border cooperation, security issues, counter-terrorism efforts, and economic matters,» the minister said. «As you can see, the organization’s perimeter is very large — it covers virtually all of Central Asia. The core — China, India, Pakistan — occupies a large part of the Eurasian space. A huge market (over three billion people), and a dynamically developing one, scientifically and technologically. I believe our organization is also a foundation of the emerging Eurasian world.»

Great hopes are pinned on the SCO Development Bank, whose establishment was agreed in principle at last year’s summit in Tianjin, China. «It is designed to strengthen settlements between countries in national currencies, address financial issues, and outline plans for expanding investment cooperation through the Development Bank’s funds in countries where needed,» the minister said.

Belarus is also interested in participating in the development of scientific and technical cooperation within the SCO space. «Such large countries with significant scientific and technological potential should also increase cooperation in scientific and technical development and complement each other with new innovative developments, especially under sanctions and restrictions, creating their own products and developing their own ideas,» Maksim Ryzhenkov emphasized.