Facing new opportuneness and challenges, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is poised to promote all-round cooperation in areas of politics, security, economy and people-to-people exchanges. Cooperation is vital for the SCO to remain a strong and reliable supporter for the stability and development of its member states, said Wang at an SCO foreign ministers meeting held in the capital city of Kazakhstan. The SCO is an inter-governmental organization founded in Shanghai in 2001. It groups China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Since its establishment, the SCQ has maintained a robust momentum of development and strongly protected the security and development interests of its member states, demonstrating its unique strategic value. The SCO is a political, military, and economic alliance founded by China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Tajikistan in 1996, with Uzbekistan joining as its sixth member state in 2001. In June 2016, the SCO members signed memorandums on India and Pakistan’s accession, the process for which will be finalized at SCO summit in June 2017. Among the alliance’s observer states are Afghanistan, Belarus, and Mongolia, while Azerbaijan, Cambodia, Armenia, Nepal, Turkey, and Sri Lanka have dialogue partner status. The SCQ’s main goals include strengthening mutual trust and neighborliness among the member states; promoting their effective cooperation in politics, trade, the economy, research, technology and culture, as well as in education, energy, transport, tourism, environmental. Protection, and other areas; making joint efforts to maintain and ensure peace, security and stability in the region; and moving towards the establishment of a democratic, fair and rational new international political and economic order. Proceeding from the Shanghai Spirit, the SCO pursues its internal policy based on the principles of mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, mutual consultations, respect for cultural diversity, and a desire for common development, while its external policy is conducted in accordance with the principles of non alignment, non-targeting any third country, and openness. SCO has strong cooperation with almost all the significant international bodies and organizations. In December 2004, a resolution entitled observer status for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in the UN General Assembly. The Organization maintains regular information contacts with the UN Secretariat and the UN institutions represented in Beijing. Traditionally, high-ranking representatives of the UN attend annual SCO summits upon the invitation of the country holding SCQ’s current presidency. SCO signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Commonwealth of Independent State (CIS) in April 2005 and identified priority areas of cooperation, such as security, economy and the humanitarian sphere. Same year, SCO signed another MoU with Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and document identified priority areas of cooperation such as combating terrorism, drug and arms trafficking, money laundering, and illegal migration and other areas. Two years later, SCO inked a MoU with the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and document outlines points of agreement regarding the establishment and development of relations of equal and constructive cooperation. Same year, SCO signed MoU with Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) and both the parties agreed to cooperate by sharing information and positive experience in the spheres of the economy and trade, transport, energy, environment, tourism, and other areas of mutual interest. Some three years back, SCO signed a MoU with the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures and agreed to take similar approaches to today’s fundamental issues, such as settling regional conflicts, strengthening core non proliferation regimes, and searching for joint responses to the current challenges, such as terrorism, separatism, extremism, drug trafficking, transnational crime, and arms trafficking. In April this year, prior to Astana Summit, SCO Council of Foreign Ministers reiterated expansion of partner-like relations and to establish contact between the SCO and other international organizations, including the UN, the UN’s Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia. The ministers consider it necessary to promote intra-SCO cultural and humanitarian cooperation for strengthening mutual understanding, for the mutual enrichment of cultures and for Diplomatic relations between the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan were established on 24 February 1992. Relations between the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan since the establishment of diplomatic relations have been developing in the spirit of friendship and partnership with high level of political cooperation. Contractual and legal framework of the bilateral cooperation accounts for more than 35 documents. The fundamental ones are the Declaration on Cooperation Principles between the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, and the Agreement on Establishment of Diplomatic and Consular Relations between the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. A milestone event in the establishment of bilateral relations was state visit of President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev to Pakistan on 24 February 1992, during which they signed the five most important documents that established the legal basis for the development of bilateral relations, including the Agreement on Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between the Republic of Kazakhstan and Pakistan. On 23-25 August 1995, Prime-Minister of the Pakistan Benazir Bhutto arrived in Kazakhstan with an official visit. Following the negotiations, the parties adopted a Joint Statement on Prospects of Bilateral Relations. On 28-30 October 1996, President of the Pakistan Farooq Leghari paid an official visit to Kazakhstan. During the visit they signed a Joint :M.Hange m May 2017 Statement on Prospects of Bilateral Relations between the Kazakhstan and the Pakistan. On 4 June 2002, President of the Pakistan Pervez Musharraf attended the First Summit of the Heads of State and Governments of the the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA) member states in Almaty. According to the results of the forum, the Almaty Act and the Declaration on Declaration on Eliminating Terrorism were signed. On 8-9 December 2003, President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev paid an official visit to Pakistan. Following the visit, the parties signed a package of documents which expanded the contractual and legal base between Kazakhstan and Pakistan. On 17 June 2006, in Almaty, President of Pakistan Pervez Musharraf participated in the 2nd CICA Summit in Almaty. On 15 June 2011, President of Pakistan Asif Zardari participated in the anniversary summit of the Council of the SCO summit in Astana. On 6-7 September 2011, Prime Minister of the Pakistan Yusuf Raza Gillani paid an official visit to Astana. During the visit, the parties discussed the issues on further expansion of trade-economic and humanitarian cooperation. There were the issues related to nuclear disarmament, security problems in the region, including the need for interaction between the competent bodies in the campaign on terrorism and extremism. In October 2011, Kazakhstan supported Pakistan’s candidacy for non-permanent members in the UN Security Council for the term 2012-2013 in exchange for support of Kazakhstan’s candidacy in this authority for the period 2017-2018. During the vote in the UN General Assembly on 27 June 2016, Pakistan voted in favor of Kazakhstan’s candidacy for non-permanent member in the UN Security Council for the period 2017-2018. On 29 August 2012, the Pakistani side supported the candidacy of Astana to host international exhibition EXPO-2017. On 25-26 August 2015, Prime Minister of Pakistan Nawaz Sharif paid an official visit to Kazakhstan, during which they discussed the issues on further expansion of trade-economic and humanitarian cooperation, as well as security issues in the region, including the need for interaction between the competent bodies in the fight against terrorism and extremism. The two sides signed a number of bilateral documents. On 23-24 June 2016, on the sidelines of the 15th session of the Council of Heads of SCO member states in Tashkent, President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev held a meeting with President of the Pakistan Mamnoon Hussein. The two leaders discussed the current state and prospects in development of bilateral cooperation in trade-economic, investment and cultural-humanitarian sectors. The sides exchanged 25 years of Kazakhstan- Pakistan relations & SCO The celebrating the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and Kazakhstan in the context of the entry of Pakistan into the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). On 5-6 July 2005, in Astana, Prime Minister of the Pakistan Shaukat Aziz attended the meeting of the Council of Heads of State and Government of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Member States. Pakistan was admitted to the SCO as an observer. After 12 years, in the year of the 25th Anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Kazakhstan and Islamic Republic of Pakistan, it is expected that Pakistan will join as full member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in the upcoming SCO summit scheduled to be held in Astana on 8-9 J nne 201 7. The Shanghai Cooperation Organization is a permanent intergovernmental international organization. Its establishment was announced on 15 J une 2001 in Shanghai (China) by the Republic of Kazakhstan, the People’s Republic of China, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Russian Federation, the Republic of Tajikistan, and the Republic of Uzbekistan. It was preceded by the Shanghai Five Mechanism. The Shanghai Cooperation Organization Charter was signed at the St. Petersburg seo Heads of State meeting in June 2002, and entered into force on 19 September 2003. This is the fundamental statutory document that outlines the organization’s goals and principles as well as its structure and core activities. The SCO’s main goals are as follows: strengthening mutual trust and neighborliness among the member states; promoting their effective cooperation in politics, trade, the economy, research, technology and culture, as well as in education, energy, transport, tourism, environmental protection, and other areas; making joint efforts to maintain views on topical issues of the international agenda. On 24-25 February 2016, official delegation of Pakistan headed by the Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Resources and co-Chairman of the Pakistani part of the Kazakh Pakistani intergovernmental commission on trade-economic, scientific-technical and cultural cooperation, Jam Kamal Khan took part in the 2nd meeting of International participants to EXPO-2017 exhibition in Astana. As part of the event, bilateral meetings were held of the Head of the Pakistani delegation with the First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan – Commissioner of EXPO-2017 R. Zhoshybaev; Chairman of the Board of “National Agency for Export and Investment “KAZNEX INVEST” JSC B. Zhangurazov and Vice-Minister of Investment and Development of Kazakhstan R.Oshakbayev. In the context of participation of the Pakistani delegation to the 2nd meeting of International participants to EXPO-2017, the Secretary (First Deputy) of Trade Development Authority of Pakistan Rabiya Javeri Agha , on behalf of the Government of the Pakistan signed the Agreement on the participation of Pakistan in EXPO-2017. The day of the Pakistan within the framework of the Exhibition will be held on August 14. In general, Kazakhstan and Pakistan have closer identical positions on topical issues of contemporary views. It serves as a reliable basis for effective cooperation in the framework of international organizations, primarily the UN, OIC, SCO and others. Taking into account the changing configurations of political processes in Central Asia and the general increase of geopolitical significance of the region, there is a growing need for Islamabad’s greater involvement in the processes of regional integration through Astana initiatives. One of the main areas of common interests of Kazakhstan and Pakistan is mutual interest in enhancing cooperation and implementation of joint projects in economic sphere. _ and ensure peace, security and stability in the region; and moving towards the establishment of a democratic, fair and rational new international political and economic order. Proceeding from the Shanghai Spirit, the SCO pursues its internal policy based on the principles of mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, mutual consultations, respect for cultural diversity, and a desire for common development, while its external policy is conducted in accordance with the principles of non-alignment, non-targeting any third country, and openness. The Heads of State Council (HSC) is the supreme decision-making body in the SCQ. It meets once a year and adopts decisions and guidelines on all important matters of the organization. The SCO Heads of Government Council (HGC) meets once a year to discuss the organization’s multilateral cooperation strategy and priority areas, to resolve current important economic and other cooperation issues, and also to approve the organization’s annual budget. The SCO’s official languages are Russian and Chinese. In addition to HSC and HGC meetings, there is also a mechanism of meetings at the level of heads of parliament; secretaries of Security Councils; ministers of foreign affairs, defense, emergency relief, economy, transport, culture, education, and health care; heads of law enforcement agencies and supreme and arbitration courts; and prosecutors general. The Council of National Coordinators (CNC) of SCO Member States acts as the SCO coordination mechanism. The organization has two permanent bodies – the SCO Secretariat based in Beijing and the Executive Committee of the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) based in Tashkent. The SCO Secretary-General and the Director of the Executive Committee of the SCO RATS are appointed by the Council of Heads of State for a term of three years. Rashid Alimov (Tajikistan) and Yevgeny Sysoyev (Russia) have held these positions, respectively, since 1January 2016 Minister of Culture and Sport of Kazakhstan Arystanbek Mukhamediuly has announced that the cultural programme of EXPO 2017 in Astana will consist of more than 3,000 events. “Over three months from June 10 to Sept. 10, Kazakhstan and its capital will be center of world attention. Several million participants and visitors are expected to visit Astana this summer. Thus, the Ministry of Culture and Sport, the Akimat (mayor’s office) of Astana city and the Astana EXPO 2017 national company are working on the implementation of a comprehensive programme of more than 3,000 events,” said Mukhamediuly. Twenty tents and 13 sectors of the expo will showcase the diversity of Kazakh national culture, art and sport. The programme will launch with the beginning of EXPO 2017 at the territory of Kazanat hippodrome, Mukhamediuly said. Artists from well known theatres from around the world will also perform for expo visitors, the minister reported. Italy’s La Scala theatre, sponsored by Italian oil and gas company Eni, will make a stop in Astana, as will Russia’s Mariinsky Theatre. The Swiss company Rolex has become a sponsor of Placido Domingo’s Operalia, an international young vocalists’ competition, which will give a final performance at Astana Opera. China’s famous Terracotta Army soldiers will be on display at the National Museum of Kazakhstan, Egypt will bring a collection of archaeological objects from ancient Egypt, the State Hermitage Museum and the Association of the Museums of France and others will also be creating exhibits, Mukhamediuly said. Open-air performances of “Don Quixote,” “Aida” and the Kazakh classic “Kyz Zhibek” will be staged. Kazakhstan’s guests will be able to see Kazakh musicals including “Astana,” “Love Poem,” “Dos tar Serti” and others, and a symphonic orchestra of 800 musicians from Novosibirsk, the Mikhailovsky Opera and local companies will perform the Eighth Symphony of Austrian composer Gustav Mahler. The Eurasia Dance Festival, which will highlight global ballet stars, and a theatre festival dedicated to the 80th anniversary of local artist Asanali Ashimov, will be held during the expo, and a competition among singers of the Turkic world will be held in Barys Arena. Mukhamediuly also noted that a number of major sporting events will be held during the expo. “In terms of the sport programme, there will be five world championships, two Asian championships, the Kazakhstan President’s Football Cup, the President’s Challenger Cup of Tennis, the Silk Road 2017 international rally, the 55th anniversary of the International Convention of the World Boxing Council and an evening of professional boxing,” concluded the minister. “EXPO 2017 is expected to be visited by more than 2.3 million people and it is also assumed that every person who comes here will visit the exhibition.