President Shavkat Mirziyoyev called on the member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) to develop and adopt a plan to assist the reconstruction of Afghanistan as soon as possible.

“We are in favor of the earliest possible development and adoption of a plan of measures to facilitate the socio-economic reconstruction of Afghanistan within the framework of the SCO-Afghanistan contact group,” he said.

He underscored that thanks to the efforts of the world community, including the SCO countries, promising perspectives for a peaceful settlement of the conflict have emerged in Afghanistan. “I am convinced that the involvement of Afghanistan in the regional trade and economic processes will contribute to the peaceful sustainable development of this country,” Shavkat Mirziyoyev said.

“Today, more than ever, it is important not to miss the historic chance to achieve the long-awaited peace in Afghanistan. Security and peace in this country should be considered as an important component of stability and economic prosperity for the extensive development of the SCO, ”the head of state added.

The President of Uzbekistan noted that in some regions of the world the military-political situation is aggravating, contradictions on an interethnic and interreligious basis are increasing.

“These global challenges and threats can be overcome only by preserving and enhancing our traditions of good neighborliness, equality, trust and consideration of each other’s interests,” the head of state said. He welcomed the agreements on a complete ceasefire and all hostilities in the zone of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, reached with the active assistance of Russia.

“In modern conditions, the threats of terrorism, extremism and drug trafficking are not weakening, but strengthening. In this regard, we consider it necessary to significantly increase the frequency of working contacts of relevant services, develop new mechanisms of interaction,” Shavkat Mirziyoyev said.

Shavkat Mirziyoyev voiced the opinion that against this background, the demand for and adaptation of the SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure to the solution of fundamentally new tasks to ensure security in the organization's space is increasing. “It is important to ensure regular discussion of the current situation and coordination of joint measures to counter challenges and threats, including in the information field,” added the President of Uzbekistan.