Organisational structure
As of 2020, the Council of Heads of State was the top decision-making body in the SCO, meeting at the annual SCO summits in one of the member states’ capital cities. Because of their government structure, the prime ministers of the parliamentary democracies of India and Pakistan attend the SCO Council of Heads of State summits, as their responsibilities are similar to the presidents of other SCO nations.[19]
As of the 4 July 2023 meeting, the Council of Heads of State consists of:[20]
- Xi Jinping (China)
- Narendra Modi (India)
- Mohammad Mokhber (Iran)
- Kassym-Jomart Tokayev (Kazakhstan)
- Sadyr Japarov (Kyrgyzstan)
- Shehbaz Sharif (Pakistan)
- Vladimir Putin (Russia)
- Emomali Rahmon (Tajikistan)
- Shavkat Mirziyoyev (Uzbekistan)
The Council of Heads of Government is the second-highest council in the organisation. This council also holds annual summits, at which time members discuss issues of multilateral cooperation and approves the organisation’s budget.[21] As of the 1 November 2022 meeting, Council of Heads of Government consists of:[22]
- Li Qiang (China)
- Narendra Modi (India) (usually sends a deputy, such as EAM Subrahmanyam Jaishankar at the 2021 summit)[23]
- Alihan Smaiylov (Kazakhstan)
- Akylbek Japarov (Kyrgyzstan)
- Shehbaz Sharif (Pakistan) (usually sends a deputy, such as Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs Andleeb Abbas at the 2020 summit)[19]
- Mikhail Mishustin (Russia)
- Qohir Rasulzoda (Tajikistan)
- Abdulla Aripov (Uzbekistan)
As of 2007, the Council of Foreign Ministers also held regular meetings, where they discussed the current international situation and interaction with other international organisations.[24] As of 2021, the Council of National Coordinators coordinated the multilateral cooperation of member states within the framework of the SCO’s charter.[25]
| Years in office | Name |
|---|---|
| 15 June 2004 – 2006 |  Vyacheslav Kasymov |
| 2007–2009 |  Myrzakan Subanov |
| 2010–2012 |  Dzhenisbek Dzhumanbekov |
| 2013–2015 |  Zhang Xinfeng |
| 2016–2018 |  Yevgeniy Sysoev |
| 2019–2021 |  Jumakhon Giyosov |
| 2022–present | Ruslan Mirzaev |
| Years in office | Name |
|---|---|
| Executive Secretary | |
| 15 January 2004 – 2006 | Zhang Deguang |
| Secretaries-General | |
| 2007–2009 | Bolat Nurgaliyev |
| 2010–2012 | Muratbek Imanaliyev |
| 2013–2015 | Dmitry Mezentsev |
| 2016–2018 | Rashid Alimov |
| 2019–2021 | Vladimir Norov |
| 2022–present | Zhang Ming |
The Secretariat of the SCO, headquartered in Beijing, China, is the primary executive body of the organisation. It serves to implement organisational decisions and decrees, drafts proposed documents (such as declarations and agendas), function as a document depository for the organisation, arranges specific activities within the SCO framework, and promotes and disseminates information about the SCO. The SCO Secretary-General is elected to a three-year term.[26] Zhang Ming of China became the current Secretary-General on 1 January 2022.[26]
The Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) Executive Committee, headquartered in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, is a permanent organ of the SCO which serves to promote cooperation of member states against the three evils of terrorism, separatism and extremism. The Director of SCO RATS Executive Committee is elected to a three-year term. Ruslan Mirzaev of Uzbekistan became the current Director on 1 January 2022. Each member state also sends a permanent representative to RATS.[27]
