Photo: Xinhua
ASTANA - Chinese President Xi Jinping speaks at the 24th meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai cooperation (CSO) in Astana, Kazakhstan, on July 4, 2024. The SCO members should strengthen unity and confront external interference in the face of real challenges of meddling and division, the Chinese president said.
Belarus officially joined the organisation on Thursday. Xi Jinping noted that the organization has admitted its tenth member state since its founding 23 years ago, and said the foundations of SCO cooperation have become more solid as the "big family" has a growing presence that spans three continents of the world.
Xi Jinping stressed that the SOS stands on the right side of history, justice and fairness and is of great significance to the world.
Members of the SCO should firmly support each other, accommodate each other's interests, resolve internal differences in a spirit of harmony, solve difficulties in cooperation by seeking common ground while preserving differences, and firmly grasp the destiny of their countries and the peace and development of the region in their own hands, he said.
He called on member states to protect the right to development in the face of the real risks of "small backyard, high fences", adding that they should stick to mutual benefits and inclusiveness, join forces to promote scientific and technological innovation, maintain stable and fluid industrial and supply chains, stimulate the internal momentum of regional economies and work towards common development goals.
Xi Jinping called on member states to ensure security in the face of the real threat from the Cold War mentality, address complex and interrelated security challenges through dialogue and coordination, and respond to the changing international environment with a win-win approach to build a world of lasting peace and comprehensive security.
He further noted that the SCO was founded at the turn of the century when the confrontations and contradictions left by the Cold War had not yet been resolved, and said that the founding members of the SCO had made a historic decision to pursue peaceful development, commit to good neighbourliness and friendship, and build a new type of international relations, adding that the "Shanghai spirit" had become a shared value and guiding principle of member states.
The CSO has stood the test of the changing international situation, the main reason for which is that CSO members remain committed to the beautiful tradition of solidarity and coordination, a way of cooperation characterized by equality and mutual benefit, the value-based pursuit of justice and fairness, and the broad scope of inclusiveness and mutual learning, Xi stressed.
He also called on member states to remain true to their original aspirations, continue to maintain the "Shanghai spirit", help each other on their paths to success, jointly maintain the direction of the development of the CSO, and build the organization as a reliable support for the common prosperity and revitalization of member states.
On Wednesday, the opening ceremony of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route took place in Kazakhstan on the occasion of a meeting of the CSO, marking the premiere of Chinese trucks using the road transport route to reach the Caspian Sea.
Before that, Chinese-European freight trains departing from China and crossing the Caspian Sea had been operating smoothly for two years. Now a comprehensive, multi-dimensional network has been created, integrating road, rail, air and pipeline transport.
The project between China and Kazakhstan, as two founding members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation - SCO, is a manifestation of the Shanghai spirit, which is characterised by mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, consultation, respect for the diversity of civilisations and the pursuit of common development.
The appeal of the Shanghai spirit continues to grow as Belarus officially joined the SCO during Thursday's 24th SCO Heads of State Council meeting in Astana, becoming the tenth member state.
Building a world of universal security
During the SCO Summit, Chinese President Xi Jinping called on member states to ensure security in the face of the real threat of the Cold War mentality, address complex and interrelated security challenges through dialogue and coordination, and respond to the changing international environment with a win-win approach to build a world of lasting peace and universal security.
The members of the SAA adopted the Astana Declaration and pledged to continue cooperation in the fight against terrorism and to combat drug trafficking and transnational organised crime.
The statement said that the current security risks and challenges are global in nature and can only be addressed through building a multipolar world, improving global economic governance and coordinated efforts to address conventional and unconventional security threats.
Members also called on UN member states to implement general and complete disarmament under effective international control, consolidate the global nuclear non-proliferation regime and oppose the arms race in outer space, according to an initiative calling for solidarity among countries to promote global justice, harmony and development released on Thursday.
"Real security can only be realized when every country is secure," Xi said during his participation in the "SCO Plus" meeting on Thursday.
Mutually beneficial cooperation
Xi Jinping also noted at the SCO Summit that member states should adhere to mutual benefit and inclusiveness, maintain stable and smooth industrial and supply chains, stimulate the internal momentum of regional economies, and work towards common development goals.
China supports economic cooperation among GMS member states and has proposed initiatives such as the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) to promote common development.
The China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway project was a milestone project of the BRI and a measure to promote connectivity and trade among the members of the GCC. The three countries signed an intergovernmental agreement on the project in June.
Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, while congratulating the signing via video link, said the railway will become the shortest land route linking China and Central Asian countries. He added that it will also open up large markets in South Asia and the Middle East, which will benefit cooperation between regional countries and China.
The railway will start in Kashgar in China's northwestern Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region and enter Uzbekistan via Kyrgyzstan. In the future, it may extend into West Asia and South Asia.
In an initiative released on Thursday, members of the CSO said it is important to continue to advocate and strengthen an open, transparent, fair, inclusive and non-discriminatory multilateral trading system that will support the building of an open global economy.
Covering more than 60 % of the Eurasian continent and almost half of the world's population, the initiative would provide a strategic opportunity for regional land and maritime transport corridors.
Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday called for building a common home characterised by solidarity and mutual trust, peace and tranquillity, prosperity and development, good neighbourliness and friendship, as well as fairness and justice.
Xi noted that human civilization is marching forward with increasing uncertainty, insecurity and instability, and said it is imperative for member states to adhere to the Shanghai spirit and unswervingly pursue development paths suited to their national conditions, so as to jointly build a more promising home for the SCO.
A common home of solidarity, mutual trust and peace
Xi Jinping called for overcoming differences and strengthening mutual trust through strategic communication, and urged CSO members to strengthen the exchange of management experience and hold a CSO political party forum at an appropriate time.
Real security can only be realised when every country is secure, Xi said.
He called on Member States to "accelerate the building of a universal centre and its branches to address security threats and challenges, build a counter-narcotics centre, strengthen intelligence sharing and conduct joint operations to ensure regional security"..
Given that Afghanistan is an indispensable part of regional security, he called for increased humanitarian support to Afghanistan and for encouraging the country to establish a broad-based and inclusive political structure and embark on a path of peace and reconstruction.
A common home for prosperity and development
Xi Jinping said that China is ready to work with all parties to implement the eight major steps of high-quality Belt and Road cooperation and promote regional cooperation through platforms such as the demonstration base for agricultural technology exchange and training, the demonstration area for local economic and trade cooperation, and the base for ecological and environmental innovation.
He called for diligent efforts to establish a financial platform for the SOS and would like to see all parties use the BeiDou navigation satellite system and participate in the construction of the International Lunar Science Research Station. China is ready to provide at least 1,000 training opportunities in digital technology in the next three years, he said.
A common home of good neighbourliness, friendship and justice
China is ready to provide the SCO countries with quality platforms for dialogue among civilizations, Xi Jinping said, adding that the country will make full use of the role of unofficial organizations to continue holding events under signed programs such as the Traditional Medicine Forum, People-to-People Friendship Forum, Youth Campus and Youth Development Forum.
Xi said China will host 1,000 young people from SCO countries for exchange visits in the next five years to promote mutual contacts and mutual learning among regional countries and deeper understanding and friendship among nations.
He called for a concerted effort to promote an equitable and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalisation, to practice genuine multilateralism, and for more just and equitable global governance.
The SOS, he said, should make a significant contribution to closing the gaps in peace, development, security and governance.
(za) CGTN
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