Chinese FM advocates closer SCO community with shared future

TASHKENT -- The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member countries should uphold the Shanghai Spirit, work together and help each other to build a closer SCO community with a shared future, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Friday.

The world today is entering a new period of turbulence and transformation, profound changes unseen in a century are resonating with the most serious pandemic in 100 years, international and regional hotspot issues keep cropping up, and all countries are faced with the arduous tasks of development and stability, Wang said at a meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the SCO in the capital of Uzbekistan.

To build a closer SCO community with a shared future, the Chinese top diplomat put forward a five-point proposal.

First, the SCO countries should cement solidarity and coordination. In accordance with the purposes and principles enshrined in the SCO Charter and the Treaty on Good-neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation among the SCO members, they should strengthen the foundation of mutual trust, support each other on issues of core interests and major concerns, and safeguard the sovereignty, security and development interests.

They should firmly support each other in following the path of development in line with national conditions, back each other in taking major measures to maintain social stability, and work together to create a sound environment for the development and revitalization of countries in the region.

Second, the SCO members need to better ensure regional security. They should implement the concept of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, and oppose confrontation between factions and undermining regional stability.

They should intensify efforts to crack down on "the three forces," including the "East Turkistan Islamic Movement," agree as soon as possible on a plan acceptable to all parties on improving the mechanism of responding to security threats and challenges, and expand cooperation in non-traditional security fields.

Third, the SCO countries should promote sustainable development. They need to pursue people-centered development, carry out more cooperation projects that are sustainable and beneficial to people's well-being, and deepen high-quality Belt and Road cooperation.

They should leverage the unique advantages of the member states and make the SCO's voice heard and fulfill its responsibilities in maintaining the security of the international production and supply chains, as well as international food and energy security.

They should draw up a roadmap for expanding the settlement in national currencies to provide better financial services for cooperation on major projects. They should continue cooperation in fighting the pandemic in various areas, and advance cooperation in poverty reduction and green development.

Fourth, the SCO members should adhere to multilateralism. They need to oppose propagating the false narrative of "democracy against authoritarianism" and creating rifts in the international community. They should resolutely promote genuine multilateralism, advocate the common values of all mankind, and work to improve the global governance.

They should step up multilateral coordination and cooperation, reject unilateral sanctions and "long-arm jurisdiction," and defend the shared interests and development space of emerging markets and developing countries.

Fifth, the SCO countries should enhance the construction of the organization. They need to enlarge the group in a steady and orderly manner, take into account geographical factors, include more observer states and dialogue partners while accepting new members, so that more countries that share the same cooperation concepts can obtain a corresponding legal status in a way that the comprehensive strength of the SCO will increase and its openness and inclusiveness will be shown.

The SCO should also put more efforts on mechanism building so that the decision-making will be more efficient, cooperation more practical, and coordination smoother.