Translation. Region: Russian Federal
Source: People's Republic of China in Russian – People's Republic of China in Russian –
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Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News
BISHKEK, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) — China plays a significant role in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and is the driving force behind its activities and development, Kyrgyz political scientist Igor Shestakov said in an interview with Xinhua.
"China plays a key role in the development of the SCO, and the figures speak for themselves," he said. Thus, in 2024, China's trade turnover with the organization's countries grew by 2.7 percent, exceeding 500 billion US dollars. In the first 5 months of 2025, it has already exceeded 200 billion US dollars, maintaining growth.
The expert noted that the SCO continues to play an important role in the formation of a new geopolitical reality, and this is largely due to the models of bilateral cooperation that China has with the countries of the organization.
"It is impossible for anyone to tell SCO member countries how to trade and with whom. In many ways, China's objective and sovereign policy plays an important role here. The country is not only increasing trade and economic cooperation, but is also an investor in infrastructure projects that SCO countries are developing," the political scientist said, adding that the Belt and Road initiative occupies a significant place in this regard.
As the political scientist noted, China is the main source of investment for Central Asian countries and fulfills its obligations to support SCO member states without putting forward political conditions. “And this generally increases the status and significance of the organization in today’s difficult geopolitical times,” the expert said.
I. Shestakov emphasized that the Belt and Road initiative has served as an important partnership project for the SCO countries for over ten years, developing infrastructure: transport corridors, roads, ports, air traffic and energy. This initiative, according to him, helps protect SCO member countries from protectionism, including the US tariff policy, and reduces dependence on the West.
“Chinese technological solutions compete with Western ones without putting forward political conditions, which reflects the ‘Shanghai spirit’ of mutual respect and non-interference in internal affairs,” he noted.
"Large infrastructure projects such as the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway create new trade routes and contribute to the development of the region, especially in the context of a shortage of internal resources. China is addressing these issues within the SCO, strengthening cooperation and stability," the expert said.
At the same time, the political scientist emphasized that attracting investments is an effective form of development of national economies not only of the SCO countries, but also of the Global South. “China is a model and example of how attracting direct foreign investments in technology, productivity, and management changes the status of the state in many ways and allows for development at a fairly rapid pace,” he noted.
“Therefore, I think that in order for the countries of the Global South to develop successfully, they must take as a basis the model that China is demonstrating today,” I. Shestakov emphasized. –0–
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