SCO FMs exchange views on SCO development, regional, int'l issues of common concern

Foreign ministers of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states convened on Tuesday in the northern Chinese city of Tianjin to exchange views on the future development of the organization, as well as major regional and international issues of common concern.

Foreign ministers of the 10 SCO member states, SCO Secretary-General Nurlan Yermekbayev, and Director of the Executive Committee of the SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure, Ularbek Sharsheev, attended the Meeting of the Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the SCO Member States. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi chaired the meeting.

"The main purpose of this foreign ministers' meeting is to exchange views on the future development of the SCO and major international and regional issues of common concern, and to make political preparations for the Tianjin summit," Wang said.

The foreign ministers discussed regional stability, economic cooperation, and global challenges, signing a resolution to deepen collaboration.

"Over the past year, we have held more than 100 events under the slogan of 'Upholding the Shanghai Spirit: SCO on the Move', and with a focus on the SCO Year of Sustainable Development," Wang said.

Wang held a joint press meeting with SCO Secretary-General Nurlan Yermekbayev after the meeting, in which he announced that the Tianjin summit will be held from August 31 to September 1.

Leaders from more than 20 countries and heads of 10 international organizations will attend the summit and related events, Wang added.

Yermekbayev discussed issues expected to be addressed at the upcoming summit.

"The majority of member states expressed strong support for the proposal to establish a development bank or another financial institution. They also highlighted the positive cooperation over the past year in emerging areas such as startups and innovation, artificial intelligence, green energy, and green industry," he said.

SCO FMs exchange views on SCO development, regional, int'l issues of common concern

SCO FMs exchange views on SCO development, regional, int'l issues of common concern

SCO FMs exchange views on SCO development, regional, int'l issues of common concern

Russia on Friday reported seizing eight cities and towns over the past week, while Ukraine claimed on the same day that its forces had stabilized the situation in the direction of Kupyansk, according to two separate statements released by the two sides.

The Russian Ministry of Defense said in its latest report that over the past week, its forces had controlled eight cities and towns, including Seversk, over the past week in the special military operation zone.

It also said that in response to Ukraine's attacks on the civilian facilities in Russia, the Russian armed forces had launched one large-scale attack and five coordinated attacks from Dec 6 to Dec 12.

The targets included Ukrainian military-industrial enterprises and their associated fuel and energy facilities, transportation infrastructure, and airports and ports used for Ukrainian military operations, as well as temporary deployment points of the Ukrainian armed forces and foreign mercenaries.

The National Guard of Ukraine reported advances in the direction of Kupyansk, controlling two settlements and multiple districts in the northern part of the city and cutting off Russia's supply lines to the strategic hub.

It said the situation in the direction of Kupyansk had been stabilized.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said on Friday that its forces had attacked a Russian oil refinery in the Yaroslavl region, aiming to cut off the Russian military's fuel supply chain.

It also said that on the same day, the Ukrainian forces had launched multiple attacks in the direction of Donetsk, destroying a Russian ammunition depot and hitting a concentration site of Russian personnel.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Friday on X that he had visited the city of Kupyansk in the Kharkiv region in eastern Ukraine.

During the visit, he met with the Ukrainian troops to mark the Land Forces Day and presented state awards to them.

Kupyansk, a key rail and road logistics hub, has seen intense battles since the autumn of 2024. In November this year, the Russian forces claimed that they had captured the city, according to local media reports.

Russia reports seizing settlements as Ukraine claims gains in direction of Kupyansk