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Participants in the summit are discussing the current state and prospects for the further deepening of interaction within the  Background information Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) SCO in such areas as security, counteracting extremism, terrorism and drug trafficking, as well as the development of the economy, industry and cultural cooperation. In addition, the SCO leaders are discussing ways to settle the conflicts in Afghanistan and Syria, as well as the developments around Iran’s nuclear programme.

Before a restricted format meeting, which is traditionally held behind closed doors, the leaders of the SCO member states (China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan) took part in a joint photo session.

Later, the meeting continued in the expanded format with participation of heads of delegations from observer countries (Afghanistan, Belarus, Iran and Mongolia), as well as the leaders of several international organisations, including the UN Secretary-General, Chairman of the  Background information Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) CIS Executive Committee, Background information Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) CSTO Acting Secretary General, and Chairman of the Eurasian Economic Commission Board.

In particular, the SCO Heads of State Council adopted decisions on the implementation of the SCO Anti-Drug Strategy for 2018–2023, the interregional cooperation of the SCO member states and the Regulations of the SCO Heads of Regions Forum, as well as cooperation in digitalisation, information and communications technology, and environmental protection. The SCO leaders adopted decisions to sign memorandums of understanding between the SCO Secretariat and international organisations, such as the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the World Tourism Organisation (WTO), the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC), the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). A decision was also made to sign the Roadmap for Further Action of the SCO-Afghanistan Contact Group.

The documents signed following the SCO Heads of State Council meeting include agreements on cooperation in the field of media, physical fitness and sport, as well as healthcare.