Participation of the SCO Secretary-General in the Opening of the Antalya Diplomatic Forum

At the invitation of the President of the Republic of Turkey, from April 11 to 13, 2025, the Secretary-General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, Nurlan Yermekbayev, is participating in the 4th Antalya Diplomatic Forum. The theme of this year's event is: "The Return of Diplomacy in a Fragmented World."

President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdoğan spoke at the opening ceremony. The head of state emphasized that his country prefers dialogue to conflict and that common sense and global awareness are antidotes to polarization.

On April 12, 2025, the SCO Secretary-General will take part in a panel session on the topic "The Role of Culture in the Modern World: Unification or Division?"

Participation of the SCO Secretary-General in the Opening of the Antalya Diplomatic Forum

On the sidelines of the forum, the Secretary-General has already held meetings with UN Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo and the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, Ahmed Aboul Gheit.

Rosemary DiCarlo congratulated Nurlan Yermekbayev on his recent appointment, affirmed the UN Secretariat's support for SCO activities, and discussed a wide range of issues concerning cooperation between the two organizations, including holding consultations and joint events. They also discussed the possibility of member states adopting joint initiatives and resolutions in the UN General Assembly. Nurlan Yermekbayev informed his counterpart on the progress in preparations for the upcoming meeting of the Council of Heads of State of SCO Member States in the People's Republic of China in 2025.

Participation of the SCO Secretary-General in the Opening of the Antalya Diplomatic Forum

During the meeting with the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, they discussed practical ways to enhance cooperation between the secretariats of the two organizations within the framework of the Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2022, including preparations for a joint event this fall on climate change and sustainable energy, with the goal of adopting final document. To this end, consultations were proposed.

The LAS Secretary-General was invited to visit the SCO Secretariat in Beijing, and it was proposed to establish a regular dialogue at the level of deputy secretaries-general. The parties exchanged views on key issues on the regional and international agenda. In addition, on the sidelines of the forum, Nurlan Yermekbayev also held talks with heads of foreign ministries of several states and international organizations.

Antalya Diplomatic Forum - an annual conference held by the Government of the Republic of Turkey in Antalya since 2021. During discussions on policy, diplomats and scholars exchange ideas and views on prospects for the development of politics, economy, and business.