The SCO Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) took place in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, on July 28-29, this year.[1] The Foreign Ministers discussed the prospects of its expansion and proposed the establishment of the SCO Development Bank along with emphasizing the need to build a consensus on the issues of concern among the member states.[2] Evaluating the challenges of multilateral cooperation in the economic and strategic spheres of Eurasia, the SCO-CFM deliberated upon removing the barriers to regional integration. The Foreign Ministers’ meet, despite securing significant achievements in many areas, echoed the regional and global uncertainties that are dominating the international arena nowadays.
The Council of Foreign Ministers is an essential part of the SCO’s functional and structural activities. It mainly takes place to prepare for the Council of Heads of State. It is also meant to consider the documents pertaining to day-to-day activities and prepare various other drafts as well. Besides, it holds discussions among the members on the issues of immediate concern, be it regional or international. This year, too, the Council brought all these agenda items under its discussion.
