Alexander Lukashenko concludes working visit to Kazakhstan

President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko has completed his working visit to Kazakhstan, BELTA reports.

In the capital of Kazakhstan, Alexander Lukashenko took part in a meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. The leaders of the countries decided to complete the procedure of Belarus' accession to the organization as a full member. Thus, the "Shanghai Nine" became the "Shanghai Ten" at the summit.

Alexander Lukashenko called it indicative and symbolic that the year of admission to the SCO coincided with the 80th anniversary of Belarus' liberation from the Nazi invaders. "This is a wonderful gift to the Belarusian people," said the head of state.

"Belarus is very proud to become a full member of the SCO. And we will strengthen the Shanghai spirit of the organization based on the principles of mutual respect, equality and solidarity," assured the Belarusian leader.

At the summit, he spoke about the specific areas that Belarus plans to pay more attention to as a full member. These are primarily the issues of international security, economy, food security, international positioning of the SCO, mutual enrichment of cultures.

The leaders of the countries adopted the Astana Declaration and about two dozen decisions on the development of cooperation in various areas, as well as on issues directly related to the activities of the organization.