Kyrgyzstan announces priorities of its SCO chairmanship

BISHKEK. Jan 12 (Interfax) - The priority of Kyrgyzstan's chairmanship in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is raising its profile and reinforcing cooperation in countering terrorism and extremism, Daniyar Sydykov, the head of the Kyrgyz presidential office's foreign policy department, said on Saturday.

"The main priorities of Kyrgyzstan's chairmanship in the SCO is contributing to enhancing the organization's international standing and profile, developing cooperation in countering terrorism, extremism, drug trafficking, as well as expanding interaction on political, commercial and economic, cultural and humanitarian and investment tracks," Sydykov told reporters.

As Kyrgyzstan is chairing the SCO this year, 2019 will be the year of the organization in the country, he said.

The upcoming state visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping and official visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Kyrgyzstan are in the works as part of holding the SCO summit is Bishkek, Sydykov said.

Kyrgyz National Security Council Secretary Damir Sagynbayev, in turn, told reporters that a meeting of the secretaries of the SCO member states' security councils will take place in Bishkek in late April 2019.

Measures related to ensuring security and public order during preparations for and holding all SCO events are currently underway in Kyrgyzstan, he said.

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