On December 1, 2017 this year Executive Secretary of ESCAP H.E. Dr. Shamshad Akhtar took part as an observer in the meeting of the Heads of Government (Prime Ministers) Council of the member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in Sochi at the invitation of the Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev.

The ESCAP Executive Secretary delivered a statement at the meeting of the Council in which she identified key directions of regional cooperation and integration of the member states of the Commission (including the SCO member states) and highlighted ESCAP activities in the spheres of development of transport-energy connectivity, trade, ICT and disaster risk reduction.

On the sidelines of the event the ESCAP Executive Secretary had a meeting with the SCO Secretary-General H.E. Mr. Rashid Alimov. The leaders of the two organizations discussed ways of further strengthening cooperation between ESCAP and SCO, with a special focus on development of transport connectivity in Eurasia.