SCO, UNESCAP to sign memorandum on cooperation

BANGKOK, May 26. /TASS/. A new memorandum on cooperation between the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) and the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) will be worked out and signed by the end of the year, SCO Secretary General Dmitry Mezentsev told TASS on Tuesday. The document is expected to be drafted for the period from 2016 to 2018. "We want to make the memorandum more meaningful - that would take into account the provisions of the resolution of the SCO interaction with the United Nations, adopted in November last year at the 69th session of the UN General Assembly," Mezentsev said. He added that the two organisations have established a very productive cooperation on transport issues. "Experts of the Commission have provided major assistance to us in the preparation of an intergovernmental agreement on the creation of favourable conditions for motor transportation in the SCO space. This document is part of the work to create a global transport corridor from East China to Western Europe," Mezentsev said. In Bangkok, the SCO delegation is taking part in the 71st annual session of ESCAP that opened Monday and will run until May 29. During his visit to Thailand Mezentsev has also met with the Executive Secretary of ESCAP Shamshad Akhtar. ESCAP is the United Nations’ major regional economic commission dealing with the promotion of socio-economic development of the Asia-Pacific countries. Its members include 53 countries. Russia is ESCAP member since its foundation in 1947 and is one of the major donors to the organisation with an annual contribution of $1.2 million. The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific is the main legislative organ of ESCAP and reports to the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). It provides a forum for all governments of the region to review and discuss economic and social issues and to strengthen regional cooperation. The Commission meets annually at the ministerial level to discuss and decide on important issues pertaining to inclusive and sustainable economic and social development in the region, to decide on the recommendations of its subsidiary bodies and of the Executive Secretary, to review and endorse the proposed strategic framework and programme of work, and to make any other decisions required, in conformity with its terms of reference. The Commission session comprises a senior officials segment followed by a ministerial segment. The joint session of the Special Body on Least Developed, Landlocked Developing and Pacific Island Developing Countries, as called for in ESCAP resolution 69/1 on the conference structure of the Commission, is held during the senior officials segment. The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation brings together Russia, Tajikistan, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. SCO is a Eurasian political, economic and military organisation which was founded in 2001 in Shanghai by the leaders of China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. These countries, except for Uzbekistan, had been members of the Shanghai Five, founded in 1996; after the inclusion of Uzbekistan in 2001, the members renamed the organisation. SCO and UNESCAP in 2012 signed a bilateral memorandum of cooperation, which expires this year. Read more