THE FORCE OF GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT IS IN THE REGIONS: SCO countries gathered at the level of regional leaders to discuss the prospects of relations development
In July 2020, Chelyabinsk will host SCO and BRICS summits. Thorough preparation has started by the Southern Ural already on December 5, 2018 while introductory meeting, which was held within the Forum of the Heads of the regions of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation member-countries.
The Forum brought together the heads of official delegations of Russia (Republic of Tatarstan, Irkutsk region, Republic of Bashkortostan), China (Heilongjiang province, Chongqing city, Shandong province), Kyrgyzstan (Osh Region, Batken Region), Kazakhstan (Kostanay region, Aktobe region), Tajikistan (Sughd Region, Khatlon Region), Pakistan (Balochistan, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces), Uzbekistan (Tashkent, Jizzakh, Namangan districts) and India.
At the Organizatioinal meeting, the Head of Tatarstan Investment Development Agency Taliya Minullina represented Tatarstan, told about economic opportunities, marked the promising areas for cooperation in the frames of interregional relations between the SCO countries, made a presentation of trade and economic achievments of Tatarstan in a cross section each SCO member-country, indicating the provinces and territories, with developed business relations with the Republic of Tatarstan.
"Today we became much closer on the way to strengthening business ties and expanding the areas for cooperation. In an open dialogue we eliminate barriers for partnership, develop relationship, create favorable conditions for business and generate new forms of joint development of countries", - Taliya Minullina said.
The Governor of Chelyabinsk region Boris Dubrovskiy pointed out active foreign economic work of Tatarstan. "Look how active Tatarstan is, how it interacts with the regions of other countries. Tatarstan now is the leader in cultural and economic terms. Largely it’s due to its active external activity. This is what we strive for", - the Governor of Chelyabinsk commented.
The forum has truly become a platform for strengthening of business relations between Tatarstan and SCO member-countries. Taliya Minullina held a separate meeting with the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment of the Government of Punjab province (Pakistan) Mian Muhammad Aslam Iqbal, as well as talks with the Chinese side. The heads of the regions concerned discussed the opportunities of expanding interregional ties and enhancing trade and economic exchange.
Like all the participants of the event, the Chief Minister of Balochistan province (Pakistan) Jam Kamal Khan praised the results of the forum.
"Taliya Minullina came to Pakistan earlier, and today we are working together again, and this is a big step in the development of relations between the regions," - he said.
The forum was followed by journalists from all over the world. The Head of Tatarstan Investment Development Agency took part in the press-conference and spoke about the readiness of Tatarstan to hold a part of activities in Kazan along with the SCO summit 2020 in Russia.
In future, the forum is planned to be expanded: the regions of the observer countries and partners of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization would join the regions of SCO countries. The Russian side has already prepared a draft of the relevant regulations.