September 2: “The proposals put forward by President Xi Jinping in his speech on the development of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) are highly practical and significant under the current circumstances,” and “Xi Jinping’s policy proposals will further strengthen connectivity among the 27 countries of the SCO family.”
On September 1, the 26th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) member states and the “SCO Plus” meeting were held in Bishkek, capital of Kyrgyzstan. Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered an important speech in which he put forward four key proposals concerning the SCO’s development and three suggestions for enabling the organisation to play its role more effectively. The proposals have generated widespread resonance, according to a China Media Group (CMG) editorial.
This year marks the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. From its origins as a regional security cooperation mechanism to its evolution into a new type of regional cooperation organization covering the largest geographical area, representing the largest population and possessing enormous development potential, the SCO’s journey has become a new model for international relations.
At the summit, President Xi Jinping highlighted the SCO’s “greatest development achievements,” “most valuable spiritual asset” and “most important experience in cooperation.” Analysts believe these three “mosts” explain the “secret of success” behind the SCO’s development and growing strength. Leaders of the member states signed and issued the Bishkek Declaration on the 25th Anniversary of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, approved a protocol to amend and supplement the SCO Charter, and adopted 28 documents. The “SCO family” expressed its determination to write a new chapter of lasting peace and common development through concrete actions.
As a founding member state, China has continuously contributed its wisdom and strength to the development and strengthening of the SCO. At last year’s Tianjin Summit, the SCO’s development strategy for the next 10 years was formulated, while President Xi Jinping proposed the Global Governance Initiative. The initiative further contributed Chinese wisdom to strengthening and improving global governance and provided direction for the SCO’s participation in global governance.
Today, the world is rapidly undergoing profound changes unseen in a century, while human civilization stands at a critical crossroads concerning its future direction. How can the SCO fulfil its historic responsibilities and actively help guide the course of history?
“Giving priority to development and building a path toward a prosperous future,” “placing security at the forefront and creating an environment of universal security,” “putting people at the center and consolidating the foundation of friendship from generation to generation,” and “establishing fair and orderly governance through dialogue and consultation”—these four proposals put forward by President Xi correspond respectively to the implementation of the four global initiatives, providing a “Chinese solution” for the SCO to achieve higher-quality development.
Ding Xiaoxing, deputy secretary-general of the Academic Committee of the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, told International Review that this means the SCO will become an important platform for actively implementing the four global initiatives and will play a greater role in safeguarding world peace and development. Sizo Nqala, a researcher at the University of Johannesburg in South Africa, believes that the four global initiatives proposed by China are highly consistent with the SCO’s values and development direction and provide clear guidelines for multilateral cooperation.
Development is the key to solving all problems. At present, all SCO member states are generally at an important stage of development and revitalisation. In the first seven months of this year, China’s import and export trade with other SCO member states reached 2.42 trillion yuan, an increase of 14.9 percent year on year.
At the summit, China proposed numerous cooperation initiatives, ranging from strengthening cooperation in traditional areas such as trade and investment, connectivity, energy and resources to expanding cooperation in emerging fields including artificial intelligence, the digital economy and green industries. China also proposed establishing the China-SCO Port Economic Cooperation Centre in Tianjin. These initiatives aim to make regional cooperation deeper, more practical and higher-quality.
Amangeldi Tazhenov, deputy director of the Institute of Foreign Policy Studies under Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said that China’s promotion of multilateral cooperation is highly important in the face of global geopolitical instability and challenges to economic development.
Security cooperation is the foundation of the SCO. At present, traditional and non-traditional security threats are increasingly intertwined. China has proposed jointly combating the “three forces of terrorism, separatism and extremism” and transnational organised crime; firmly preventing external forces from interfering in the internal affairs of member states, undermining political security and destroying regional stability; supporting efforts to strengthen multilateral partnerships on nuclear security; and supporting the SCO’s “four security centres” in beginning operations as soon as possible.
These initiatives will further strengthen the “security network,” enhance member states’ ability to address security threats and challenges, and more effectively safeguard regional peace and stability.
The diversity of civilisations and cultures is a distinctive feature of the “SCO family.” Through the successful organisation of various forums, the establishment of the China-SCO Primary Education Cooperation Centre, and projects such as Confucius Institutes and Luban Workshops, China continues to build bridges for mutual learning and people-to-people exchanges. These initiatives and proposals will further consolidate the foundation of friendship among SCO member states for generations to come.
At present, the global balance of power is undergoing profound changes, while the trend toward a multipolar world is irreversible. A more united and dynamic SCO is fully capable of making a greater contribution to the advancement of global multipolarity.
At the “SCO Plus” meeting, President Xi Jinping explained the core principles, essential prerequisites, key pathways and development direction for promoting an equal and orderly multipolar world. He stressed the importance of using “SCO strength” to drive prosperity and development across the Eurasian continent, “SCO wisdom” to promote the development and strengthening of the Global South, and “SCO action” to lead the reform and improvement of global governance.
Analysts believe these three suggestions will help the SCO better fulfil its role and contribute to achieving a fairer and more rational system of global governance.
After an extraordinary 25 years, the SCO now stands at a new starting point. Its founding purpose remains unchanged and firm, while the organisation is moving toward the goal of achieving higher-quality development.
Guided by the “Shanghai Spirit” and through the implementation of the four global initiatives, China will continue to work with members of the “SCO family” to improve global governance and build a community with a shared future for humanity, while continuously contributing Chinese wisdom and solutions.
Source: Subarna, Touhid, Lily, China Media Group (CMG)