President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov arrived September 12 in Kyrgyzstan’s capital Bishkek to take part in a regular session of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Council of the Heads of State.

The leaders of China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan have held talks at a working meeting today.

Major events of the SCO summit are scheduled for September 13.

In accordance with the official program, the session of the SCO Council of the Heads of State is due to start with a meeting in a contracted format. The session will continue, in line with the established tradition, in an extended format. The leaders of member nations will be joined by representatives of observer states and international organizations.

The participating parties are expected to exchange views on ways of perfecting the activities of the organization, of advancing the relations of long-term neighborliness and friendship, providing for regional security, and boosting economic and humanitarian interaction in the SCO space.

The Bishkek Declaration is anticipated to be signed following the session of the Council of the Heads of State, along with a range of other documents designed to further expand and enhance the multilateral cooperation within the SCO.

Later the day, the President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov met with President of the Kyrgyz Republic Almazbek Atambaev. During the talks, the two sides exchanged views on the Uzbek-Kyrgyz relations.

(Source: Press service of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan)