Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- On 25 November, under the chairmanship and initiative of the Uzbek side, in the format of a video conference, the first meeting of the heads of ministries and departments of the SCO member states responsible for the development of the information and communication technologies sector was held.

During the online meeting, the parties exchanged information on the work being done in the development of communication technologies, and also discussed the prospects for further interaction within the framework of the existing SCO Special Working Group of Experts on Modern Information and Telecommunication Technologies (AWG SITT), including the development of the digital economy, electronic governments, IT industries, startup ecosystems and artificial intelligence and others.

The meeting participants also considered draft documents regulating further ways of interaction within the framework of ICT, such as the Cooperation Program for the Development of Digital Literacy, the Action Plan for the implementation of the Concept of Cooperation of the SCO Member States in the field of digitalization and ICT.

The meeting was attended by SCO Secretary General Vladimir Norov, who informed the parties in detail about the activities of the SCO Secretariat and the work done within the JWG SITT over the past 15 years of its activity (since 2006), as well as about the results achieved in related areas, such as international information security and interaction at the UN sites.

Vladimir Norov also called on the parties to intensify cooperation in the implementation of the Plan of Interaction between the SCO Member States on Ensuring International Information Security for 2022-2023, adopted at the initiative of the Uzbek side at the Organization's summit in Dushanbe in September this year.

“I have no doubt that the proposals made and the documents adopted today will be put into practice in the near future and will create the necessary prerequisites for bringing partnership to a new level within the framework of our Organization in this area,” - concluded the SCO Secretary General.

Upon completion of the first meeting, the Protocol was signed.