Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 23 September (BelTA) – Belarus is interested in establishing interaction with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the organization’s member states, including for the sake of counteracting terrorism and extremism. The statement was made by Belarusian Interior Minister Igor Shunevich as he met with Zhang Xinfeng, Director of the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO RATS), on 23 September, representatives of the Belarusian Interior Ministry told BelTA.

The source noted that Belarus considers the SCO as a unique platform for discussing topical matters and working out joint practical solutions for the effective counteraction of new challenges and security threats in the region. Further development of cooperation with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization looks promising and advisable to Belarus for the sake of reaching common goals and developing new partnership strategies.

Igor Shunevich congratulated Zhang Xinfeng (Deputy Minister of Public Security of the People’s Republic of China in the past) on his new appointment and noted that the Chinese Public Security Ministry and the Belarusian Interior Ministry had established effective practical interaction. The Belarusian Interior Minister also thanked the SCO RATS Director for his initiative to establish cooperation in security matters between the SCO and Belarus taking into account the country’s new status as an observer in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

In turn, Zhang Xinfeng informed Igor Shunevich about the SCO RATS structure in detail. Zhang Xinfeng said he hopes Belarus would become an example for other observer countries to follow.