More than 700 high-level delegates gathered in Makhachkala from October 1 to 3, 2025 for the second International Forum on Sustainable Development of Mountain Areas, hosted by the Inter-Parliamentary Assembly of the CIS and the Government of the Republic of Dagestan. The forum brought together parliamentarians, agency officials, expert circles, the diplomatic corps and delegations from the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, BRICS and other regional associations to discuss mountain development across member states.
The opening ceremony featured remarks from the Head of the Republic of Dagestan, Sergey Melikov, Deputy Chairman of the Council of the Federation Inna Svyatenko, and Secretary-General of the Inter-Parliamentary Assembly of the CIS Dmitry Kobitsky. During a panel discussion, Deputy Secretary-General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Suhel Khan outlined the current state and prospects for trade and economic cooperation under the SCO, referring in particular to decisions taken at the Organization’s summit on September 1, 2025 in Tianjin, China.
Delegates reviewed policy measures and worked toward concrete proposals to enhance legal protections for mountainous territories, strengthen interregional and border cooperation, and promote sustainable environmental tourism and sports. The forum emphasised improving the quality of life for people who live in mountain areas through targeted legislative and development measures, reflecting a shared commitment to long-term mountain development.
The event also served as a follow-up to the inaugural forum held in Saint Petersburg on October 12–13, 2023, signalling continuity in regional efforts on mountain development. For Pakistan, an SCO member with significant highland regions, the forum’s proposals on tourism, environmental protection and cross-border cooperation underscore opportunities for greater engagement and policy alignment with neighbouring states.
Participants left Makhachkala with a set of recommendations aimed at harmonising legislation, expanding cross-border projects and fostering sustainable tourism and sport initiatives that benefit local communities. The forum highlighted the need for coordinated action across institutions to translate these recommendations into tangible improvements for mountain residents across the SCO and partner countries.
