Togo expands diplomatic and economic ties at SCO summit

During the 26th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Togolese President Faure Gnassingbé engaged in several high-level bilateral meetings to expand Togo's international partnerships.

In discussions with Belarusian President Alexandre Loukachenko, both leaders committed to strengthening economic ties. Priority sectors identified for cooperation include food security, agro-industry, agricultural mechanization, mining, and banking. Belarus expressed readiness to support Togo's development roadmap by fostering partnerships between their respective private sectors.

Gnassingbé also met with Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov to reaffirm commitments made during previous visits, focusing on the implementation of existing memorandums of understanding.

Addressing the broader SCO assembly, Gnassingbé spoke on the transition toward a multipolar world. He argued that while emerging power centers offer Africa opportunities to diversify partnerships and reduce dependencies, multipolarity must be accompanied by a reformed multilateralism to ensure global justice and prevent increased fragmentation or rivalry.