On 20-22 May 2025, the delegation of the Belarusian Institute of Strategic Research (hereinafter – BISR) and the Center for International Studies of the Faculty of International Relations of the Belarusian State University led by BISR Deputy Director Vitaly Stakhhovsky, will take part in the XX meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Forum themed “SECURE SCO: towards the transformation of the region in the spirit of “Peace is one family” at the invitation of the Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA) in New Delhi.
This year, for the first time since the Republic of Belarus joined the SCO in July 2024, BISR will participate in the annual meeting of the SCO Forum as a full participant in this platform with the status of a National Research Center.
In addition to the high-level plenary session with the participation of representatives of the Indian Ministry of External Affairs and the ICWA leaders, as well as the SCO Secretariat, the organizers propose to focus on the following relevant issues during the working sessions:
- the growing role of the SCO: advancing the collective vision of a secure and stable region of Greater Eurasia;
- synergy of comparative advantages of the Member States for sustainable development in the SCO space;
- the SCO as a platform for cooperation in the humanitarian field.
During one of the panel discussions, Vitaly Stakhovsky will make a presentation on the topic: “The potential of Belarus as a new SCO Member State for sustainable development in the Organization's space: expert view of the BISR." The head of the Center for International Studies of the Faculty of International Relations of the Belarusian State University is scheduled to speak separately.
In addition to participating in the main events of the meeting, bilateral meetings are planned on the sidelines with colleagues from National Research Centers of the SCO Member States, as well as analytical structures of dialogue partners and observer states.
The Belarusian delegation also plans to make a number of practice-oriented proposals aimed at further developing and improving the mechanism of the SCO Forum.
The meeting will end with the traditional ceremony of signing the final protocol, as well as handing over the chairmanship of the XXI SCO Forum to the Institute for Political and International Studies of the Iranian Foreign Ministry.
In addition to the SCO Forum meeting, on May 20, members of the Belarusian delegation will participate in the Belarusian-Indian Expert Round Table organized jointly with the Global South Center of Excellence DAKSHIN.
Prior to the event, it is planned to sign a Memorandum of Understanding between BISR and the DAKSHIN Center, which will create a framework for further practical cooperation in areas of mutual interest.