© Bishkek City Administration View of Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan. Guterres takes part in the SCO summit in Bishkek Peace and Security
UN Head Antonio Guterres is on a visit to Kyrgyzstan: he is taking part in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit, which takes place in Bishkek on August 31 and September 1. The opening of the meeting coincided with the Independence Day of Kyrgyzstan.
“I am very glad that I arrived in Kyrgyzstan at this historic moment – on Independence Day,” said the Secretary-General.
“Today, Kyrgyzstan plays a very important role in the work of the United Nations and in the life of the international community,” he added.
Guterres recalled that Kyrgyzstan was elected to the UN Security Council for the first time – for 2027-2028. This will place the country at the center of international efforts to ensure peace, security and development. “This corresponds to the impressive economic growth that is observed in the country today,” the Secretary General noted.
Kyrgyzstan became the second Central Asian country elected to the Security Council as non-permanent members. In 2017-2018, Kazakhstan was the first Central Asian state to join the Council.
Bilateral meetings in Bishkek
In Bishkek, Guterres held a number of bilateral meetings, including with the President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov. They discussed the situation in the region, cooperation between the UN and the Kyrgyz Republic, including in the areas of climate change, environmental protection and socio-economic development, as well as issues of peace and security – in connection with the upcoming membership of Kyrgyzstan in the Security Council.
The UN chief also met with the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and noted the diplomatic initiatives of Uzbekistan promoting peace and stability in Central Asia.
During the meeting with the President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon, the Secretary General thanked him for his continued support of the global agenda in the field of water resources and glaciers. Guterres and Rahmon discussed developments in the region, including the situation in Afghanistan.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization is the largest regional organization in the world in terms of territory and population (3.5 billion people). It was founded in 2001 by the leaders of China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, and later joined India, Pakistan, Iran and Belarus joined.
World Nomad Games
On Monday, the UN head also attended the opening ceremony of the VI World Nomad Games. This week, Kyrgyzstan will be the platform where more than a hundred countries will present their traditional sports, as well as crafts and music.
The Games are the largest international competitions in ethnic sports. Spectators, in particular, will be able to enjoy horse racing, horse racing, wrestling and archery.