Meeting regional challenges

Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit will seek pragmatic approaches to security and economic issues

The 13th Meeting of the Council of Heads of Member States of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization will be held on Friday in Bishkek, capital of Kyrgyzstan, in the presence of senior officials from member and observer states. The Bishkek summit will once again show the SCO's pragmatic attitude toward regional security challenges, the Afghanistan rebuilding process and the economic security of member states.

Kyrgyzstan, as the host country, has lived through two violent regime changes, one in 2005 and one in 2010. With a population of about 5.5 million, it is the only country in the world to host both US and Russian military bases, and it faces ethnic violence, drug-related crimes and economic troubles. The country is the epitome of the region-wide economic stagnation and security challenges.