[Title] DUSHANBE DECLARATION By the Heads of the Member States of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization

The heads of the member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (hereinafter referred to as the SCO or the Organization), based on the outcome of the meeting of the Council of Heads of the SCO Member States held on September 11 and 12, 2014 in Dushanbe, hereby declare the following.

1. The modern world is going through a difficult transition period marked by the transformation of the entire system of international relations through the process of building a multi-polar world, by increased uncertainty and instability in the world economy and politics, and by heightened regional and international security threats.

In these circumstances, the member states confirm their commitment to further strengthening the legal framework of international relations in accordance with the generally recognized principles and norms of international law, primarily those enshrined in the United Nations Charter. They support the respect for the individual choice by the peoples of all countries of the ways of their political and socio-economic development. They emphasize that the principles of mutual respect for sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity, equality, mutual benefit and non-interference in internal affairs, non-use of force or threat of force form the basis for sustainable development of international relations.

The member states call for a world free from war, conflicts, violence and pressure, for the development of a comprehensive, equal and mutually beneficial cooperation of the international community, for the achievement of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security with due regard to the legitimate interests of all states. They firmly believe that addressing global challenges and threats, such as terrorism, separatism, extremism, illicit trafficking in drugs, psychotropic substances and their precursors, transnational organized crime, cyber threats, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, man-made and natural disasters, threats related to the spread of communicable diseases, as well as the effects of the global climate change can only be made through close cooperation between all states, international organizations and forums.

2. The member states reaffirm their commitment to strengthen the United Nations central coordinating role in international relations in order to maintain peace and security in the world, promote sustainable development and deepen bilateral and multilateral cooperation on the basis of equality and partnership between states.

The SCO member states are in favor of further strengthening the leading role of the UN Security Council in maintaining international peace and security entrusted to it by the UN Charter. They believe that in order to achieve the broadest possible consensus on the UN Security Council reform, consultations should continue aimed at searching for a comprehensive approach based on the UN long-term interests and the need to ensure cohesion of its member countries, without setting artificial deadlines for the reform or imposing options that do not enjoy the support of the majority of the UN member states. At the same time, the importance of increased representation of developing countries in the UN Security Council has been emphasized.

3. The member states reaffirm their commitment to continue to ensure regional security and stability, mutual respect, equality and trust, joint counteraction to global threats and challenges, expand cooperation in political, economic and humanitarian fields in order to make the SCO a region of long-term peace, friendship, good neighborliness, prosperity and harmony.

The heads of state note with satisfaction that the positive nature of the relations between the member states of the Organization that are based on the SCO Charter and the Treaty on Long- Term Good-Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation, promotes strengthening political trust, maintaining peace and stability, ensuring sustainable economic and social development, joint search for solutions to common urgent problems in the SCO region.

The member states reaffirm their resolve to rigorously comply with the provisions of the Treaty in order to further develop long-term relations of good-neighborliness, friendship and cooperation in areas of mutual interest, inter alia, turn the mutual borders between them into those of eternal peace and friendship.

In this regard, the SCO member states attach great importance to the practical implementation of the Action Plan for 2013-2017 in support of the implementation of the Treaty on Long-Term Good-Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation of SCO member states approved on September 13, 2013 in Bishkek.

4. The member states supported continued active measures within SCO to combat terrorism, separatism, extremism, illicit trafficking in narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and their precursors, transnational organized crime and ensure international information security. The member states express their willingness to cooperate in the fight against the above threats and challenges together with interested countries, regional and international organizations and agencies, both bilaterally and multilaterally.

The heads of state favor further practical cooperation of the SCO member states in countering new challenges and threats to security and welcome the work aimed at the implementation of the Shanghai Convention on Combating Terrorism, Separatism and Extremism, the SCO Counter- Terrorism Convention, the Program of cooperation among the SCO member states in combating terrorism, separatism and extremism for 2013-2015, the Agreement on cooperation between the governments of SCO member states in combating crime, the Agreement between the SCO member states on cooperation in combating illicit trafficking in narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and their precursors, the SCO Anti-Drug Strategy for 2011-2016 and the Program of Actions in support of its implementation, as well as the Agreement between the governments of SCO member states on cooperation in the field of international information security.

The member states express their strong commitment to preserving and strengthening the international drug control system based on the three UN Framework Conventions and with the central coordinating role of the United Nations, and confirm the status of its decision-making body in this area - the Commission on Narcotic Drugs - and consistently oppose attempts aimed at undermining this system.

In the context of the preparation for the special session of the UN General Assembly on drugs scheduled for 2016, the member states consider important to join forces based on an integrated and balanced approach, principle of common and shared responsibility of states for the world drug problem and encourage interested partner organizations to make a joint statement in support of the preservation and strengthening of the international drug control system.

5. The SCO member states are stepping up joint efforts to build a peaceful, safe, fair and open information space based on the principles of respect for state sovereignty and non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries. They will cooperate in preventing the use of information and communication technologies in order to undermine the political, economic and social security and stability of the member states, as well as universal moral foundations of social life, and prevent the use of Internet for promoting ideologies of terrorism, extremism, separatism, radicalism, fascism and chauvinism.

The member states favor equal rights of all countries in respect of the Internet management and the sovereign right of states to control it nationally, inter alia, for ensuring security.

The member states support the elaboration of universal rules, principles and standards of responsible behavior by states in the information space, and consider "Rules of conduct in the field of international information security" distributed on behalf of the member states as an official UN document, an important step in this direction.

6. In order to facilitate the realization of the huge potential of good-neighborliness and contribute to the strengthening of peace, security and stability in the region, the member states support further development of interaction and cooperation in the field of law and mutual legal assistance.

7. Emphasizing respect for the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Afghanistan, the member states express support to the efforts of the Afghan people aimed at national reconciliation, restoration of peace and revival of the country under the leadership of the Afghans and by the Afghans themselves. The member states are in favor of strengthening the UN's central coordinating role in international efforts to resolve the situation in Afghanistan.

The member states reaffirm that they favor Afghanistan as an independent, peaceful, neutral and prosperous state.

8. The member states hold that the problems in the Middle East and North Africa should be solved solely by peaceful means through a broad dialogue with all stakeholders on the basis of mutual respect of interests. They support the legitimate aspirations of countries and peoples of the region for a better life, broad political and socio-economic rights with due regard to the historical and civilizational specificity of each country.

9. Supporting the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of the Syrian Arab Republic, the member states spoke in favor of the Syrian crisis to be settled exclusively by political and diplomatic means through continued comprehensive direct inter-Syrian dialogue which was launched at the International Conference on Syria "Geneva-2" on January 22, 2014 in Montreux, the dialogue which is aimed at the implementation of the Geneva Communiqué of June 30, 2012 and relevant provisions of Resolution 2118 of the UN Security Council. The member states welcome the successful completion of the Syrian chemical weapons destruction that was implemented on time and under international supervision.

The member states favor peaceful and prosperous Syria, where all citizens, regardless of their religious and ethnic background, enjoy equal rights.

10. The member states support the constructive negotiations process underway between the "Six" and Iran aimed at preparing a comprehensive agreement on the settlement of the situation around the Iranian nuclear program by political and diplomatic methods, and welcome the adoption on November 24, 2013 in Geneva of the "Joint Action Plan" by the ministers of foreign affairs of the Great Britain, Germany, Iran, China, Russia, USA and France. They regard such a step as an important contribution to the strengthening of trust and mutual understanding between the states and in the region as a whole.

11. The SCO member states consistently stand for the strict compliance with the provisions of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons aimed at eliminating the threat of the proliferation of nuclear weapons, advancement of the process of nuclear disarmament in the context of strengthened strategic stability and equal and indivisible security for all, and promotion of international cooperation in the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.

The member states welcome the signing on May 6, 2014 in New York by the UK, China, Russia, USA and France of the Protocol on security assurances to the Treaty on Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone in Central Asia as an important milestone in the realization of the region's initiative which makes a significant contribution to strengthening regional and international security and global non-proliferation regime.

The unilateral and unlimited build-up by individual states or groups of states of the missile defense systems would undermine international security and strategic stability. The member states are convinced that an individual security should not ensured at the expense of the security of other states. Relevant problems should be solved engaging all interested states and through political and diplomatic efforts.

The member states advocate the safety of space and its peaceful use, prevention of arms race and armed conflicts in outer space, early start of negotiations on the prevention of weapons deployment in outer space and the use of force or threat of force against outer space objects, as well as promotion of further development and implementation by the international community of transparency and confidence measures in outer space.

12. The heads of state are in favor of an early restoration of peace in Ukraine and continuation of the negotiation process in order to achieve a comprehensive solution to the crisis in that country. They welcome the signing on September 4, 2014 of the Protocol of the consultations of the Trilateral contact group on joint steps aimed at the implementation of the Peace Plan of the President of Ukraine and the Russian President's initiatives.

13. The heads of state note that, at present, the world economy still faces many challenges that negatively impact its sustainable and balanced growth. In this context, of special importance is pursuing a responsible monetary policy, tightened international capital flows controls, ensured food and energy security, strengthened economic cooperation and exchange of good practices of addressing the existing problems.

The heads of state are in favor of the broad international cooperation in addressing the issues of resource provision to meet the needs of the mankind without harming the environment and public health, in achieving sustainable, high-quality and inclusive economic growth, including bridging the technological gap between countries by providing all states equal and non- discriminatory access to the benefits of economic globalization.

All of the above calls for effective joint actions by the SCO member states in the field of economic cooperation, which is an important part of the socio-economic development and stability in the SCO region. The member states assign priority to joint efforts aimed at creating favorable conditions for intensification of trade, economic and investment activity, development of high-tech industries, modernization of various industries, implementation of projects of the development of transport and logistics, information and communications and other infrastructure, increased economic competitiveness of the member states and improved level and quality of life in the SCO region.

The heads of state have noted an important role in the development of business, trade and investment cooperation in the SCO region that belongs to the collaboration between business and financial communities of the SCO member states, the SCO Business Council and SCO Interbank Association, inter alia, by engaging the observer states and dialogue partners' potential.

The heads of state noted the importance of the review of issues related to the establishment of the SCO Development Fund (Special Account) and the SCO Development Bank and instructed to continue these efforts with a view to an early completion.

14. Having positively assessed the results of the cooperation in cultural and humanitarian area, the heads of state spoke in favor of further development of multilateral and bilateral relations in the field of culture, science, technology, innovation, education, health, tourism and sports that promote strengthening of relations of good-neighborliness, friendship and cooperation, spiritual convergence, advancement of a dialogue between civilizations in the interests of the peoples of the SCO region.

The member states will facilitate the exchange of experience in mutually agreed areas of cooperation in culture and art, inter alia, through a variety of events to be held on a bilateral and multilateral basis in order to be able to enjoy the achievements in the field of theater, music, performing and applied arts that reflect the unique flavor of each of the countries.

The heads of state noted with satisfaction the effectively developing cooperation in the field of sanitary and epidemiological welfare of the population and called for continued joint work in this direction.

15. Adoption of the Procedure for granting the status of the SCO member state and of the new version of the model Memorandum of commitments of a state applying for the SCO membership serves as an important step towards ensuring the SCO further development and improved legal framework for the Organization's activities and future expansion

16. The member states are in favor of further strengthening of cooperation with the SCO observer states and dialogue partners in countering new challenges and threats, strengthening cooperation in trade, economic, cultural and humanitarian fields, and they underscore the importance of developing practical mechanisms of cooperation between the member states and observer states.

17. The heads of state entrusted the Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the SCO member states to continue elaborating the SCO Development Strategy until 2025 and submit it, in the prescribed manner, to the next meeting of the SCO CHS for approval.

18. The member states attach great importance to the 70th anniversary of the Victory over fascism in the Second World War that will be celebrated in 2015 in the SCO member states and around the world. The Second World War lessons point to the continued importance of the resolve of all states and political leaders to prevent new tragedies resulting in large-scale human casualties and of their willingness to work together to effectively confront challenges and threats to the security of mankind.

The SCO member states, whose peoples made a decisive contribution to the victory and suffered heavy losses during the Second World War, will continue to actively resist attempts to revive fascist ideology, spread xenophobia and intolerance and use extremism and terrorism.

19. The member states will continue strengthening their cooperation in a spirit of mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, mutual consultations, respect for cultural diversity, aspiration for common development, and jointly establishing an effective model of interstate relations based on friendship, mutual assistance and cooperation.

September 12, 2014, Dushanbe