On 26-27 October, Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Head of the UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA), Petko Draganov, conducted a visit to the People’s Republic of China. In Beijing, the SRSG met with Deputy Foreign Minister of China Cheng Guoping and Secretary-General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Dmitri Mezentsev.

 

During the meetings an exchange of views took place on political and security dynamics in Central Asia against the backdrop of domestic developments and external factors. Prospects for increasing interaction among Central Asian countries in different formats, including within the SCO, in order to promote cooperation to counter the threats of terrorism, extremism, drug trafficking and organized crime, as well as to reach mutually acceptable solutions on issues related to the management of trans-boundary water resources and protection of environment, were also on the agenda of the meetings. All sides reiterated readiness to continue support to Central Asian states in order to ensure lasting peace and stability in the region.