Vladimir Norov appointed SCO Secretary General

The former head of Uzbekistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Vladimir Norov, took office as the new Secretary General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), the Uzbek Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported.

His candidacy was approved at the Qingdao summit in June 2018.

Norov will be in office until the end of 2021.

Vladimir Norov previously served as Director of the Institute of Strategic and Interregional Studies under the President of Uzbekistan, has the rank of ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary. In 2006-2010, he served as Uzbek foreign minister, RIA Novosti reports.

The SCO is an international organization founded in 2001 by the leaders of China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. Later, it was joined by India and Pakistan.