[Title] JOINT COMMUNIQUE Twelfth meeting of the Council of Heads of Government (Prime Ministers) of the Member States of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization
The twelfth meeting of the Council of Heads of Government (Prime Ministers) of the member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (hereinafter referred to as the SCO and/or Organization) was held on November 28 and 29, 2013 in Tashkent. The meeting was attended by Prime Minister S. Ahmetov of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Premier of the State Council Li Keqiang of the People's Republic of China, Prime Minister Zh. Satybaldiev of the Kyrgyz Republic, Prime Minister D. Medvedev of the Russian Federation, Prime Minister K. Rasulzoda of the Republic of Tajikistan and Prime Minister Sh. Mirziyoev of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
The meeting was chaired by the Prime Minister Sh. Mirziyoev of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
The SCO Secretary General D. Mezentsev, Executive Director of the SCO Regional Antiterrorist Structure Executive Committee Sinfen Zhang, Chairman of the Board of the SCO Business Council M. Sharshekeev and Chairman of the Council of SCO Interbank Association G. Hasanova participated in the meeting.
The meeting was attended by the representatives of the SCO observer states: Second Vice- President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan M. Halili, First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of India S. Singh, Minister of Industry, Mine and Trade of Iran M. Nematzade, Deputy Prime Minister of Mongolia D.Terbishdagva, adviser to the Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan on national security and foreign affairs S. Aziz and UN Under-Secretary-General - Executive Secretary of UN ESCAP N. Heyzer, ASEAN Deputy Secretary-General Nyan Lin and Chairman of the Executive Committee - CIS Executive Secretary S. Lebedev.
In a friendly, constructive and businesslike atmosphere, the heads of delegation exchanged views on a wide range of issues of global and regional economic development, discussed the issues of trade, economic and humanitarian cooperation within the SCO and reached the following understanding.
1. The heads of government noted that, despite certain signs of recovery in the world economy, the serious consequences of the international financial and economic crisis have not yet been fully mitigated. The anti-crisis measures being taken do not resolve the problem of the public debt and national budgets deficits in many leading countries of the world that has a negative impact on the global economic situation. There has been a slowdown or stagnation in the real sector of the economy, declined world's largest market, increased social tensions in several countries.
In this regard, of special significance are the issues of ensuring macroeconomic stability and financial stability, advanced development of high-tech industries, modernization of industrial infrastructure, improved level and quality of life. It is important to address issues of employment, reduce unemployment and underemployment, particularly among young people, including those that would match measures in the area of labor, employment and social services with the balanced economic and financial policy.
The SCO member states seek to ensure that the world economy follows the tracks of steady sustainable growth.
The heads of government stress that the SCO member states contribute to the solution of this problem through their efforts to ensure the success of their own socio-economic development, strengthen cooperation in economy and exchange positive experiences of solving the above problems,.
2. The heads of government noted that since their last meeting held on December 4 and 5, 2012 in Bishkek, a major joint work had been done in the key areas of economic and humanitarian cooperation within the Organization. The SCO region has been maintaining macroeconomic stability with growing GDP and industrial production, as well as mutual trade and investments.
The heads of government underlined the importance of practical implementation of the Action Plan for the Implementation of the Program of Multilateral Trade and Economic Cooperation among the SCO Member States and the List of Measures for further development of the project activities within the Organization in 2012-2016.
The SCO member states intend to further expand mutually beneficial cooperation in trade, economic, financial, banking, investment, science, technological and innovation areas, in the field of transport and communications, agriculture, use of alternative energy.
Practical cooperation between the relevant ministries and agencies of the SCO member states and their business community and improved legal framework for cooperation in these areas will contribute to the modernization, technical and technological re-equipment of key sectors of the economy of the SCO member states, rapid transition to innovative development, maintenance of economic stability and realization of the existing cooperation potential for the benefit of their peoples and the region.
In this regard, the meeting also noted the importance of implementing agreements reached by the meeting of heads of ministries and agencies in charge of science and technology of the SCO member states held on September 11, 2013 in Astana.
3. The heads of government noted the fruitful work of the meeting of the SCO member states ministers in charge of external economic and trade relations. The meeting held on October 23, 2013 in Tashkent analyzed the current situation and prospects for expanding trade and economic ties within the SCO, worked out specific measures aimed at further strengthening of mutually beneficial multilateral cooperation, and agreed to continue creating favorable conditions for trade and investment with priority given to joint projects and activities in specific areas of cooperation within the SCO.
The Commission of Senior Officials and ad hoc working groups on priority areas of cooperation have been instructed to intensify work on the implementation of the Action Plan for the Implementation of the Program of Multilateral Trade and Economic Cooperation among the SCO Member States and the List of Measures for further development of project activities within the SCO in 2012-2016. To this end, the ad hoc working groups should develop proposals on their own streamlining and enhancement, as well as continue preparation of coordinated proposals to be potentially included in the mentioned Plan and the List.
The heads of government instructed the ministers of the SCO member states responsible for foreign economic and trade relations, jointly with the SCO Secretariat, to analyze the effectiveness of the ad hoc working groups and take appropriate decisions.
Having appreciated the activity of the SCO Business Council and SCO Interbank Association, the heads of government recommended the said bodies to strengthen cooperation in developing project activities within the Organization aimed at the practical sustainable socio-economic development in the SCO regions, inter alia, through improved funding mechanisms for investment projects, establishment of direct relations between the business community and financial institutions of the SCO member states.
The heads of government welcomed the practical initiatives by the business community of the SCO member states aimed at creating joint high-tech and innovative enterprises and projects implemented in the priority sectors such as infrastructure, mechanical engineering, light and food industry, agriculture, tourism, exhibitions and fairs and multimodal transport and logistics complexes.
4. The heads of government stressed the need to strengthen dialogue and expand financial and banking cooperation in order to promote socio-economic development of all the SCO member states, boost regional trade and economic and investment cooperation, and increase the role of the region in the global economy. In this context, the meeting noted the importance of adopting by this CHG meeting of the decision on further work aimed at establishment of the SCO Development Fund and SCO Development Bank (Special Account).
5. The heads of government shared the position regarding the priority of the issues related to strengthened multilateral cooperation in the field of transport and development of international transport corridors. The effective use of all available transit potential of the region, priority development of transport infrastructure, creation of favorable framework conditions for increased volume of freight traffic will boost trade and investments in the SCO region.
The meeting took note of the outcome of the meeting of the transport ministers of SCO member states held on November 15, 2013 in Tashkent. The heads of government instructed to continue active cooperation in the context of the Joint Statement on further development of cooperation among member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in the field of transport adopted by the current SCO CHG meeting.
The heads of government note the importance of continued development of cooperation in the area of air, road and rail links, and construction and efficient use of multimodal transport and logistics complexes.
In this regard, the meeting stressed the importance of an early signing of the Agreement between the governments of SCO member states on favorable conditions for international road transport that would provide a sound legal framework for mutually beneficial cooperation in the field of road haulage in the SCO region.
6. The heads of government appreciated the work of customs services and called for continued active cooperation in customs matters in order to create favorable conditions for the development of trade relations, in particular through improved customs administration, exchange of information between customs services, mutual assistance in customs matters, introduction of modern technologies to facilitate and accelerate customs procedures and effectively counter smuggling and other illegal activities.
In this regard, it has been considered appropriate to resume elaboration of a draft Protocol on the exchange of information between the customs authorities of the SCO member states necessary for the identification and monitoring of goods' customs value.
7. The heads of government noted the relevance of the accelerated cooperation in agriculture and instructed the ministers of agriculture to proceed to practical implementation of the agreements reached and agreed projects in this area.
8. The heads of government noted the need to make additional concerted efforts to jointly counter the threats of natural hazards, technological accidents and disasters in order to improve the capacity to timely respond to them.
In this regard, the meeting noted the importance of the outcome of the meeting of heads of ministries and agencies in charge of emergency prevention and relief, held on September 10, 2013 in St. Petersburg, as well as the relevance of the joint exercises of rescue services of the SCO member states "Rescue operation aimed to eliminate the devastating earthquake consequences" (June 11-16, 2013, China) and "Element – 2013" (September 10-12, 2013, Kyrgyzstan).
9. The heads of government underlined the importance of strengthened multilateral cooperation in implement the provisions of the Agreement between the governments of SCO member states on cooperation in public health.
The heads of government expressed their appreciation of the 3rd meeting of heads of services of the SCO member states responsible for sanitary and epidemiological welfare of the population held on November 22, 2013 in St. Petersburg that identified ways to further promote cooperation in the fight against communicable diseases and strengthen sanitary control in the SCO region. In this regard, the meeting noted the importance of the Programs on notification of epidemiological situations caused by communicable diseases in the territory of SCO member states signed by this SCO CHG meeting.
10. The heads of government consider necessary to continue working together in order to promote cooperation in the field of environmental protection.
11. Having positively assessed the results of cooperation in cultural and humanitarian area, the heads of government supported further development of multilateral and bilateral relations in the field of culture, education, health, sports, tourism, science and technology, which contribute to the strengthening of relations of good-neighborliness, friendship and cooperation, spiritual convergence, promotion of intercultural dialogue in the interests of the peoples living in the SCO region.
12. The heads of government noted the importance of implementing joint programs and projects aimed at the fullest use of the tourist potential of the region in order to promote the rich historical and cultural heritage of the SCO member states.
13. The heads of government have called for intensified cooperation with international and regional organizations that respect the SCO basic principles and objectives, and also welcome tapping the potential of the SCO observer states and dialogue partners for the SCO activities in order to promote common development and prosperity in the region.
14. In order to promote steady development of multilateral cooperation in the framework of the Organization, the heads of government have instructed relevant ministries and departments of the SCO member states to proceed to the practical implementation of the agreements reached by the meeting of the Council of Heads of SCO member states held on September 13, 2013 in Bishkek, including the Action Plan for 2013-2017 in support of the implementation of the Treaty on Long- Term Good-Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation of SCO Member States, in respect of trade, economic, cultural and humanitarian cooperation.
15. The heads of government endorsed the report of the SCO Secretariat on the implementation of the Program of Multilateral Trade and Economic Cooperation among the Organization's member states (December 2012 - November 2013).
The meeting approved the budget of the Organization for 2014 and took decisions on the issues related to financial and organizational activities of the SCO permanent bodies.
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The heads of government noted the high organizational level of the meeting of the Council of Heads of Government (Prime Ministers) of the SCO member states and expressed gratitude to the Uzbek side for its warm hospitality.
The next meeting of the Council of Heads of Government (Prime Ministers) of the SCO member states will be held in 2014 in the Republic of Kazakhstan.
November 29, 2013, Tashkent