SCO Heads of Government Sign Program for Customs Services in 2016-2021

The customs services of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states will continue cooperation during the period 2016-2021, with a corresponding program signed during a meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of Government on Tuesday.

ZHENGZHOU (China), December 15 (Sputnik) — The SCO heads of government approved a range of other documents, including a decision to allocate funds for the creation of a protected information and telecommunications system between the competent bodies of the SCO member countries.

The sides also agreed to continue cooperation on the establishment of the SCO Development Bank and the SCO Development Fund.

SCO Secretary-General Dmitry Mezentsev and Executive Secretary of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) Shamshad Akhtar signed a memorandum of understanding between the two bodies.

The SCO is a political, economic and military alliance comprising Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. Pakistan and India's applications to join the SCO were accepted in July but they will only officially accede to the organization following the completion of certain procedures.