SCO Summit in Astana 2024 … growing expansion efforts amid increasing global challenges

Within the framework of its presidency of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), Kazakhstan will host on July 3 and 4, 2024, the 24th SCO Summit in the capital Astana for the fourth time in its history since the founding of the organisation after the years 2005, 2011, and 2017, and in light of accelerating global geopolitical and economic transformations, and escalating tensions and challenges that require regional and international coordination and cooperation more than ever before.This Summit is a prominent international event that brings together leaders and representatives of member states to discuss and coordinate joint efforts in several fields under the theme of enhancing regional cooperation and sustainable development, and developing the organizations role as a main platform for fruitful cooperation among its member states.Amid expectations of expanding the list of its member states, SCO is preparing to develop the scope of its influence and enhance its capabilities in confronting crises, which makes the world await the decisions and actions that this summit will produce, which could contribute to achieving stability and sustainable development in the region, and providing an effective model for international cooperation in the face of increasing global challenges.Astana's hosting of this summit comes at a time of increasing pressing global challenges, including climate change, food and energy security, the fight against terrorism, and cyber threats. Member states look forward to the Astana Summit 2024 being a turning point for the SCO, contributing to strengthening relations between member states, providing effective solutions to common challenges, and enhancing regional and international cooperation in various political, economic and military fields.Regarding files on the table of the Astana Summit 2024, President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev revealed, during a regular meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the SCO countries which was held last May, that the leaders of the organisation's countries will discuss more than 20 documents in Astana.The next Astana Summit of the SCO on July 3-4 will be held under the theme of "Strengthening Multilateral Dialogue - Striving for Sustainable Peace and Development", and this agenda will fully reflect one of the organizations main goals which is ensuring peace, security and stable development in the region, Tokayev said at the time.The Kazakh President stressed that these guidelines will be presented to the heads of state of the organization for consideration, adding that he is confident that their effective implementation will make a significant contribution to strengthening the full partnership within the organization.Last March, the special envoy of the Russian President for SCO affairs Bakhtiyor Khakimov said in a press statement that one of the most important documents that the heads of member states will consider is the proposal of the Council of Foreign Ministers regarding the development of the organization, which stipulates a set of measures related to improving the quality of the activities of the permanent bodies, re-coordinating interaction with dialogue partners and observers, giving additional impetus to work on the path of confronting challenges and threats, and combating terrorism, extremism, separatism, and drug trafficking.In the context of further expansion of the organization, Belarus is likely to be accepted as the 10th full member state of the organization at the Astana Summit 2024, according to what Secretary-General of the Organization Zhang Ming announced on June 6, during the 19th meeting of the SCO Forum in Tashkent.At the SCO Summit in Astana next month, a decision will be made regarding Belarus accession to the organization, and thus; the number of member states in the organization will reach a historic number. After more than 20 years of its development, the organization has transformed from a regional mechanism for meetings of heads of state into the largest comprehensive international organization, Ming said.According to international media reports, leaders of member states are expected to sign more than 20 economic and security documents at the summit, as these documents will include the Declaration of Astana, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisations initiatives on global unity for just, peace and stability, and the roadmap to enhance cooperation with dialogue partners in the organization, and many others.

Since its founding on June 15, 2001 in Shanghai, and the signing of the organisations charter which defines its goals and basic principles at the 2002 summit in St. Petersburg by the six founding countries (China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan), the SCO has sought further expansion through including new full member states, others as observer states, and others as dialogue partners.The first expansion of the organisation came to enhance its influence on the international level, with India and Pakistan joining as full members during the historic summit held in the Kazakh capital, Astana, on June 9, 2017, before Iran joined the list of full member states of the organisation in 2023 during the summit held in India via video conference technology.In addition to the nine full-member countries, the organisation also includes three countries that currently enjoy the status of observer states: Afghanistan, Belarus, and Mongolia, which are seeking to obtain full membership in the future.Fourteen other countries have also joined the organisation so far with the status of "dialogue partner", which enables them to participate in the organizations activities and consultations. This list includes the State of Qatar which signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) regarding its joining the organisation as a dialogue partner on Sep.14, 2022, on the sidelines of the SCO Summit which was held in the Uzbek capital, Tashkent, along with Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Egypt, the Maldives, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Cambodia, Myanmar, Nepal, and Sri Lanka.The accession of new countries to an international organisation such as the SCO constitutes an important step and development in the formation and structure of the organization, expanding the scope of cooperation within it, and increasing its ability to influence and achieve its goals. Indeed, new countries can support the organisation with their expertise and resources in various fields, which contributes to diversifying the capabilities and interests of the organization, in addition to representing an opportunity to enhance the competitiveness and positive impact of the organization in the future.Since the summit announcing the founding in Shanghai, China, in 2001, until the India summit in 2023, the organisations stakes and goals have evolved, leading the international scene as a multi-dimensional platform for enhancing cooperation between member states in various political, economic, security, and cultural fields.Despite the progress the organisation has made in expanding the scope of cooperation between its member states, observer states and dialogue partner states, there are challenges related to harmonizing different national policies and interests between members and partners. However, the organisation seeks to strengthen partnerships and deepen cooperation to achieve stability, security and prosperity in the region.Trade between its member states has witnessed significant growth over the past two decades, with the volume of trade exchange between member states approaching $500 billion at the end of 2022, according to the Secretary-General of the Organisation.According to data from the SCO 20-Year trade development report, the total trade value of member states increased from $667.09 billion in 2001 to $6.06 trillion in 2020, and their share of total global trade increased from 5.4 percent in 2020 to 17.5 percent in 2021. The gross domestic product of its member states amounted to about 23.3 trillion dollars.