SCO agenda includes organization expansion, Syria, says Kremlin
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The SCO leaders will convene in Astana, Kazakhstan, for a two-day summit starting Wednesday.
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Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov speaking at a press conference (AFP via Getty Images)
Ahead of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated, on Wednesday, that the discussions between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will be extensive, covering bilateral relations, as well as the situations in Syria and Ukraine.
Established in 2001 by China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan to combat terrorism and bolster border security, the SCO has grown in recent years. This expansion is in line with Beijing and Moscow's mutual objective of countering perceived US "hegemony" and reconfiguring the international system to their benefit.
The situation in Syria on SCO's agenda
The Russian spokesperson stated that Putin and Erdogan will discuss the possibility of the Russian President's trip to Turkey.
"The topic of President Putin's visit to the Republic of Turkey remains on the agenda. It will definitely take place over time, as soon as it is possible to coordinate the schedules of the two presidents... Today will be a good opportunity to discuss the prospects of such a trip," Peskov stressed.
Peskov also mentioned that the situation in Syria will be a topic of discussion during the talks between Putin and Erdogan, adding that Russia supports the peace process in Syria and has made significant contributions to this effort.
"The bilateral meeting will be quite long, at least an hour. Of course, all issues of mutual interest will be discussed there. First of all, these are bilateral relations, but of course, the presidents are likely to touch upon the Syrian affairs, Ukraine," Peskov told reporters.
Not all issues in the cooperation between Russia and Turkey have been resolved, but there is political will, the spokesperson stressed.
Elsewhere in his remarks, Peskov stated that Russian President Vladimir Putin is not engaging in discussions with former US President Donald Trump regarding peace in Ukraine. Trump has consistently claimed that, if reelected, he would resolve the Russia-Ukraine conflict within 24 hours. "No, there are no such talks," Peskov told reporters in response to a related question.
Regarding China, Peskov reaffirmed that Russia is collaborating with China in all areas, including sensitive ones.
"Yes, we are cooperating with China in all areas, including sensitive ones," Peskov told reporters, adding, "Various aspects of trade and economic cooperation, of course, will be touched upon."
Expansion of SCO to be addressed
In a related context, Peskov assured that the issue of expanding the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) will be addressed during the summit in Kazakhstan.
"The number of those wishing to join the SCO is quite large, this topic will also be discussed at the summit tomorrow, the expansion process," the Russian spokesperson told reporters.
He stated that Belarus' accession to the SCO aligns with Minsk's interests, saying, "We welcome Belarus' accession to the SCO, it is our very important ally, and joining the SCO is in the interests of Belarus. And of course, it will be a great acquisition for the SCO."
The SCO leaders will convene in Astana, Kazakhstan, for a two-day summit starting Wednesday. The summit will gather SCO members alongside observers and dialogue partners to discuss economic, political, and security cooperation, as well as strategies for enhancing the organization.
Expected attendees include heads of state and government from Azerbaijan, Belarus, China, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Pakistan, Russia, Qatar, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, the United Arab Emirates, and Uzbekistan. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is also set to participate.
It is worth noting that the Russian spokesperson also noted that Russian President Vladimir Putin might have a brief meeting with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres during the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Astana.
"Gutteres? I do not rule out that they will have a brief opportunity. There is no separate bilateral meeting planned, but there will be an opportunity to talk on the sidelines," Peskov told reporters.
Putin may also engage in discussions with the Qatari delegation at the SCO summit, as per Peskov.
