On 8 April 2016 the 28th session of the Council of the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO RATS) under the chairmanship of the Republic of Kazakhstan took place in Tashkent.

On 8 April 2016 the 28th session of the Council of the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO RATS) under the chairmanship of the Republic of Kazakhstan took place in Tashkent. The session was attended by representatives of 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.

The results of implementation of the Cooperation Program of SCO member states in combating terrorism, separatism and extremism for 2013-2015 and the pace of execution of the decisions’ of the SCO RATS Council was discussed at the meeting. The draft report of the SCO Council for Heads of the SCO Member States on the activities of the anti-terrorist organization in 2015 was approved. It is noted that the activity of the SCO RATS is aimed towards countering modern threats and challenges in the fight against terrorism, separatism and extremism.

The outcomes of the joint staff exercise "Xiamen-2015" of the competent authorities of the SCO member states to detect and prevent the use of the Internet for terrorist, separatist and extremist purposes, held in the territory of the People's Republic of China, were highly appraised.

The session participants agreed a set of joint measures on countering contemporary challenges and threats, including from international terrorist organizations and also considered the issues of improving activities, aimed at forming an immunity to radical religious ideologies among the population.

The fourth scientific-practical conference on cooperation in combating international terrorism and extremism with the participation of delegations of the SCO member states and observers is planned for the 4th quarter of 2016.

In order to establish a broad partner network in the fight against terrorism, separatism and extremism, the draft documents, regulating the cooperation of the SCO RATS with the Secretariat of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA) was approved.

A number of staff of the competent authorities of the SCO member states and the officers of the Executive Committee of the SCO RATS was awarded for personal contribution to the development of the activities of the SCO RATS and the strengthening of cooperation between the competent authorities of the SCO member states.

The Council also adopted decisions on the organizational and human resources issues, financial support of the Executive Committee of the SCO RATS and further formation of legal base for the cooperation of the SCO member states in combating terrorism, separatism and extremism.

The session of the Council of the SCO RATS was held in a businesslike and constructive environment.