The second day of the international scientific-practical conference “10 years on the path of security and cooperation: experience of countering modern threats and challenges on SCO space” proved growing part of SCO in maintaining stability in the region, and it’s understandable therefore why its membership enlargement was the most debated topic at the forum arranged ahead of the organization’s jubilee summit in Astana.

This discussion was shared by Alexander Lukin –director of the research center for Eastern Asia and SCO under the Moscow state institute of international relations with the Russian MFA, and deputy-chairman of the department for SCO research with the Chinese institute of international problems Li Tsigo.

Experts at the conference said the SCO enlargement should not impede its governing. The question is not so much the SCO readiness to extend the list of its members, as its preparedness to be involved in the processes going on south of the ex-USSR borders in Asia?

Interlaced geopolitical points, practical aspects of security and international cooperation is an ample field for scientific research that should be carried out cautiously.That’s what scientific diplomacy is for, that’s what Kazakhstan arranged this conference for, said Sultan Akimbekov – director of the Institute for world economics and politics with RK First President’s fund.

The forum made a note of Kazakhstan’s (an SCO founder) contribution to the organization’s development and thanked the country for consideration to the propositions and offered ideas to be factored in drafting the final documents of the jubilee summit in Astana.

Raushan Shulembayeva

Almaty