On May 21, 2024, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan Bakhtiyor Saidov took part in the meeting of the Council of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the SCO member states in Astana. The meeting began with a minute of silence in the honor of late president of Iran Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister of Iran Hossein Amir-Abdollahian. Minister welcomed the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus Sergei Aleinik and congratulated him on the successful completion of all procedures for the Republic of Belarus to join the SCO family as a full member. At the meeting, the parties discussed the preparation for the upcoming summit, reviewed a number of cooperation topics within the SCO. The sides frankly and constructively exchanged views, particularly in the areas of economic cooperation, security, transport and logistics, cultural and people-to-people and other dimensions. Emphasized that Uzbekistan stands for further strengthening the role of the SCO on a regional and global scales, and the effective use of its enormous potential, especially in the light of the Organization's expansion.