The heads of state of the Shanghai Co-operation Organisation (SCO) will consider a decision on establishing co-operation between the organisation’s Secretariat and the African Union (AU) at the summit in Bishkek. This was announced by the organisation’s Secretary-General Nurlan Yermekbayev at a meeting of the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers.
“A proposal to establish co-operation between the SCO Secretariat and the African Union is being put forward for consideration by the heads of state. We regard the development of partnerships with international and regional organisations as an effective means of strengthening the SCO’s international standing and expanding opportunities for practical co-operation,” — TASS quotes Yermekbayev as saying.
The SCO Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Cholpon-Ata marked the final stage of preparations for the summit in Bishkek, which will take place from 31 August to 1 September under the chairmanship of Kyrgyzstan. At the meeting, the ministers are finalising a package of documents to be approved by the heads of state.
The Shanghai Co-operation Organisation (SCO) is an international organisation established in June 2001, when the heads of state of China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan signed the relevant Declaration.
The African Union (AU) brings together 54 states on the continent and is Africa’s largest regional organisation.
Earlier in July, Burkina Faso’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Co-operation and Burkinabe Abroad Karamoko Jean-Marie Traoré during talks with Chairperson of the African Union Commission Mahmoud Ali Youssouf called on the African Union to pursue reforms and achieve financial independence.