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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
BEIJING, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) — Leaders from Asia, Europe and Africa will gather in the northern Chinese port city of Tianjin from Aug. 31 to Sept. 1 for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit, the largest in its history, to chart the SCO's development path for the next decade.
In its 24 years of existence, the SCO, originally created to address security issues, has evolved into a comprehensive regional organization representing nearly half the world's population. Here's what you need to know about the SCO's journey so far and what to expect from the Tianjin summit.
A CONTINUOUSLY DEVELOPING REGIONAL ASSOCIATION
The SCO's prototype is the Shanghai Five mechanism, when China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan united in 1996 to address border security issues after the end of the Cold War. On June 15, 2001, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization was established, with Uzbekistan also joining as the sixth member.
What began as a regional security group has evolved into a regional organization encompassing nearly half the world’s population, a quarter of the world’s land area, and a quarter of the world’s GDP. With the addition of India, Pakistan, Iran, and Belarus, the SCO now has 10 member states, as well as two observer countries and 14 dialogue partners.
In an effort to maintain regional security and promote common development, the SCO adheres to the “Shanghai Spirit,” which is characterized by mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, mutual consultation, respect for cultural diversity, and the desire for joint development.
This spirit has helped the SCO chart a path of regional cooperation, overcoming differences in ideology, social structure and development paths and setting an example for a new type of international relations.
Over the past years, SCO member states have strengthened political mutual trust and carried out fruitful cooperation in various fields, increasing efforts to maintain regional stability, ensure stable growth of trade, implement joint infrastructure projects and take coordinated actions in areas such as food and energy security.
Through mechanisms such as the Regional Anti-Terrorism Structure, SCO member states have effectively cooperated to maintain regional peace and stability by combating terrorism, separatism and extremism. The security architecture has been strengthened, and joint exercises have expanded to cyberspace.
According to the Trade Development Report published in 2022, in the 20 years since the establishment of the SCO, the total trade volume of the organization's member states has grown almost 100-fold, and their share in world trade has increased from 5.4 percent in 2001 to 17.5 percent in 2020, indicating the growing influence of the organization.
"The Shanghai spirit is the 'root' and 'soul' of the SCO," said Chinese Foreign Ministry Ambassador Fan Xianrong, who is responsible for the work of the Chinese national coordinator of the SCO.
According to Fan Xianrong, in the context of the constantly changing international situation, the SCO member states will continue to uphold this spirit by taking concrete actions, proposing their solutions to create a fair and equal system of global governance, and supporting the construction of a community with a shared future for mankind.
CHINA: A STRONGER SUPPORTER OF THE “SHANGHAI SPIRIT”
As one of the founding members of the SCO, China has always attached priority to the SCO at the diplomatic level and firmly adhered to the "Shanghai Spirit". China has put forward a series of important initiatives and proposals, and contributed Chinese wisdom, judgment and dynamism to regional development.
China proposed to build a community of shared future for the SCO, an inspiring vision that enriches the “Shanghai Spirit.” China also put forward a proposal to build an “SCO common home” that enjoys unity and trust, peace and security, prosperity and development, good-neighborliness and friendship, and justice.
In the economic sector, trade and investment ties between China and other SCO member states have become increasingly strong, with cooperation spanning sectors such as infrastructure, energy, agriculture and technology, contributing to the welfare of people across the region.
In 2024, the trade turnover between China and the SCO member states, observer states and dialogue partners reached a new historical high of US$890 billion in value terms, accounting for 14.4 percent of China's total foreign trade that year. In the same year, the number of China-Europe freight train shipments passing through SCO countries and regions reached 19,000, up 10.7 percent from 2023.
China welcomes the widespread use of the Beidou navigation system and participation in the creation of the International Scientific Lunar Station, and is also ready to provide SCO countries with at least 1,000 quotas for training digital technology specialists in the next three years.
Since assuming the rotating SCO chairmanship in July 2024, China has closely cooperated with all SCO members and hosted more than 100 events under the theme of “SCO Year of Sustainable Development”, including ministerial meetings, the SCO Political Parties Forum, the SCO Media and Think Tank Summit, and the SCO Arts Festival.
"China will work with all SCO members to remain true to the original aspirations of the organization, fulfill its mission, promote the 'Shanghai Spirit' and propose SCO solutions for global governance and reform," said Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Liu Bin.
The summit will also adopt statements on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the World Anti-Fascist War and the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations, as well as a number of final documents on strengthening cooperation in the security, economic and humanitarian spheres.
In addition, China will also put forward new thoughts and views on developing the “Shanghai Spirit”, fulfilling the SCO’s mission to meet the needs of the times and people’s expectations, and announce new measures and initiatives to support the SCO’s high-quality development and all-round cooperation.
WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THE SCO SUMMIT IN TIANJIN
The upcoming 2025 SCO summit, which will bring together more than 20 foreign leaders and 10 senior officials from international organizations, is expected to reach consensus and guide the organization toward building a closer community with a shared future.
According to Liu Bin, the key results of the summit will be the signing of a declaration by the leaders of the SCO member states, as well as the approval of the organization's development strategy for the next 10 years.
The summit will also adopt statements on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the World Anti-Fascist War and the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations, as well as a number of final documents on strengthening cooperation in the security, economic and humanitarian spheres.
In addition, China will also put forward new thoughts and views on developing the “Shanghai Spirit”, fulfilling the SCO’s mission to meet the needs of the times and people’s expectations, and announce new measures and initiatives to support the SCO’s high-quality development and all-round cooperation.
"The Chinese side is convinced that a friendly, united and fruitful Tianjin Summit will advance the SCO to a new stage of high-quality development characterized by greater solidarity, closer coordination, more dynamic vitality and higher efficiency," he said.
Director of the Institute of World Politics of Kyrgyzstan Sheradil Baktygulov is looking forward to the summit. “The SCO summit in Tianjin will take place at a difficult time of global instability, but it will become a guiding star, pointing the right path to safe and stable development,” said Sheradil Baktygulov. -0-
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