Xi Jinping calls for strengthening SCO member states’ solidarity and mutual trust

On July 4, 2023, Chinese President Xi Jinping and other senior Chinese officials attended the 23rd meeting of the Council of Heads of Member States of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization via video conference in Beijing.Image source: Xinhua News Agency

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday called on member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization to stick to the right direction and enhance unity and mutual trust, while stressing that the historical trend of peace, development and win-win cooperation is unstoppable.

Xi Jinping made the remarks while attending the Shanghai Cooperation Organization’s virtual summit on Tuesday. At the same time, the organization ushered in a landmark move. Iran officially became a member on the same day. Experts said that this marked the second round of expansion of the SCO. Experts said that attracting more members is not only conducive to enhancing the SCO’s global influence, but also conducive to the SCO’s response to the impact of changes in the international situation.

Observers also said that as hostilities by Western countries, especially the United States, stepped up efforts to divide the SCO member states, it was time for the member states of the organization to strengthen mutual trust and dialogue and cooperate more on a wider range of issues, including cooperation in the economic field. site. They slammed Western media for hyping that the crisis in Russia and Ukraine could cast a shadow over the summit, arguing it was a “narrow” view of the SCO, an organization that focuses more on broad cooperation.

In his video speech, Xi Jinping emphasized that SCO countries should strengthen strategic communication and coordination, bridge differences through dialogue, and replace competition with cooperation.

We should earnestly respect each other’s core interests and major concerns, firmly support each other’s development and revitalization, and independently formulate foreign policies with the overall and long-term interests of the region in mind. “We are highly alert to attempts by external forces to instigate a new cold war and camp confrontation in the region. We must resolutely oppose any country interfering in China’s internal affairs and instigating a ‘color revolution’ under any pretext,” Xi said at the summit, in his video speech.

He said that we must maintain regional peace and common security. Maintaining regional peace and security is our common responsibility. China is willing to work with all parties to implement global security initiatives, promote the settlement of international disputes through dialogue and consultation, promote political settlement of international and regional hotspot issues, and build a solid barrier for regional security.

Xi Jinping also said that the SCO countries focus on practical cooperation to speed up economic recovery. Promoting economic growth is a common task for all countries in the region. China is willing to work with all parties to implement global development initiatives, adhere to the correct direction of economic globalization, oppose protectionism, unilateral sanctions and excessive expansion of national security, and oppose the establishment of barriers, decoupling and cutting off supply chains. We need to make the cake of win-win cooperation bigger, so that more development achievements can be shared more equitably by the people of all countries.

Xi Jinping pointed out that we need to strengthen the connection between the high-quality joint construction of the “Belt and Road” and the development strategies and regional cooperation initiatives of various countries.

growing influence

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who chaired the SCO summit virtually on Tuesday, said Iran had formally joined the organization and he also welcomed Belarus’ signing of the Memorandum of Obligations for SCO Membership.

In his speech, Xi Jinping congratulated the two countries.

Iran is now the ninth member of the group.

SCO Secretary-General Zhang Ming and Iranian Ambassador to China Bakhtiar jointly attended the ceremony of Iran’s accession to the SCO. The Iranian flag was hoisted at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Secretariat building in Beijing on Tuesday.

The SCO follows a strict admissions process; Iran initially requested to join the organization 15 years ago.

Zhu Yongbiao, director of the Afghan Studies Center at Lanzhou University, told the Global Times on Tuesday that Iran’s entry into the organization is symbolic as it kicks off the second round of expansion of the SCO.

Zhu said the organization currently covers a wide range of areas, from Central Asia to South Asia to West Asia, which will enhance the organization’s global influence and enhance its ability to withstand complex international situations.

The reason why the SCO’s influence continues to grow under the complex international situation is that it promotes cooperation to ensure security; It is of great significance for the resolution of many regional and international conflicts.

In addition, new types of constructive partnerships have been established within the organization, which is not exclusive and is open to cooperation with other international organizations.

Qian Feng, director of the research department, said that in addition to expanding the scale, deepening security cooperation, jointly offsetting the negative impact of geopolitical wrestling, strengthening internal coordination among member states, and promoting economic recovery will also become major issues in the next stage of the SCO. The dean of the National Institute for Strategic Studies at Tsinghua University told the Global Times.

Qian Qichen pointed out that the development of the organization has encountered various challenges, such as the United States using the Indo-Pacific strategy to drive a wedge between China and neighboring countries; Washington is taking actions to win over India in an attempt to weaken the cohesion of the organization. Other issues such as Afghanistan, the current conflict between Russia and Ukraine, and terrorism also pose challenges to the SCO, Qian said.

Modi paid a state visit to the United States last month and met with US President Joe Biden. During Modi’s visit, the United States stepped up efforts to win over India to play a bigger role in its so-called “Indo-Pacific strategy” that is clearly aimed at containing China.

Qian Qichen said that with the increasing attempts of Western countries to alienate members of the SCO, the member states of the SCO urgently need to strengthen internal coordination and mutual trust, and promote cooperation in dealing with issues of common concern.

In order to achieve economic independence, SCO member states Discussions are underway to reduce the use of the US dollar and build out the organization’s infrastructure. own currency system.

Akoshikarov said that after solving the political problems facing the organization, the SCO can advance economic cooperation. Akoshikarov said that learning from the BRICS countries is one direction. The BRICS countries have established banks in Shanghai, and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization can follow suit.

Russia-Ukraine crisis not main focus

Russian President Vladimir Putin welcomed Iran to the SCO, noting the importance of assisting Tehran to adapt to all processes of the organization, TASS news agency reported. Russia also supports Belarus joining the group as soon as possible, Putin said at the group’s virtual online summit.

In general, the Russian President stressed that we are pleased with the growing authority and influence of the SCO and the growing interest of other countries and international institutions in the organization’s activities. According to the TASS news agency, the Russian president said: “Many of them are eager to establish a fair dialogue with the SCO and are considering the possibility of joining its work. They trust us, they want to be friends with us and cooperate with us.”

Western media mainly focus on whether the current Russia-Ukraine crisis will cast a shadow on the summit.The Associated Press reported that this was Putin’s first multilateral summit since Wagner’s rebellion,” the forum said. [SCO] This is more important than ever for Moscow, which is eager to show that the West has failed to isolate it. “

Qian Qichen said that these reports reflect the narrow view of some Western media on the SCO. “The conflict between Russia and Ukraine is a global concern, so the SCO member states will discuss it. However, the conflict will not be the main topic; the organization will focus more on how to help the organization develop in the new complex environment. “Promote multilateral cooperation and play a greater role in regional and international governance. ”

In an interview with RIA Novosti in May, Zhang Ming said that the member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization are willing to create favorable conditions for a proper settlement of the Ukrainian crisis and continue to make their own efforts to overcome the Ukrainian humanitarian crisis.

None of the other SCO members are directly involved in the conflict, so the organization can only help mediate the conflict and try its best to prevent the crisis from spreading and escalating, Sun said.

Unlike Western countries’ unilateral sanctions and fueling of conflicts, SCO members are trying to offset the negative impact of conflicts on other countries by strengthening cooperation in transportation, energy, trade and investment, Sun said.