SCO helping develop a multipolar world order

Current global economic and political processes show the world is undergoing a transformation. Many of the changes, to which we did not always attach importance, have now accumulated a critical mass, initiating processes that we cannot reverse.

Geopolitical confrontations, which threaten to escalate, can be attributed to the exhaustion of the ideological and value narratives of the Western world. In fact, they've become extensive barriers to the development of not only what they consider to be their adversaries but also their allies and partners.

Economic globalization, perceived by most countries as promoting common development, has transformed into an extensive mechanism of pressure and restraint on development itself. However, some positive trends have also been observed. For example, the importance of national interests, sovereignty, and the preservation of different cultures and traditions has increased. In a new, highly competitive geopolitical environment, international and regional associations are becoming important factors maintaining the stability of the world order.

Like countries, international organizations, too, are confronted with questions that will determine their potential for and effectiveness in solving current and future problems. The conditions under which they will have to operate have already been determined, because we are steadily moving toward a multipolar world, which requires the establishment of a new value matrix, and fairer laws that take into account the interests of all parties.

To begin with, there is an accelerated shift toward the creation of national value and cultural brands. At the same time, striking a balance between national and universal values is becoming increasingly important.

When it comes to the growing importance of a positive "point of attraction", it is obvious that in the process of radical transformation, associations that actually shape the development agenda for the future have a distinct advantage. The aim of countries therefore should be to establish a transparent legal framework, conduct interstate interaction based on the sovereign equality of states, build mutual trust, and resolve issues through negotiation.

There is also a need to understand security as a basis for development. In the future, security, especially national and global security, should be strengthened through sustainable development. To ensure this, countries have to adopt a systemic approach to common and indivisible security, develop new ways to address security issues, implement them in accordance with international law and respect the sovereign status of all participants in interstate interaction.

"Security through development, development through security" is a concept that unites the member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, helps meet their needs, and facilitates integration based on the synergy of trends and expectations.

In addition, the SCO has in its arsenal in-demand principles of interstate interaction — SCO member states do not link cooperation and mutual assistance to conditions, or impose their will on others.

In this sense, the SCO is a grouping where security and development converge. The SCO's development policy is the source of strength, and the "Shanghai Spirit" has firmly established itself in the political lexicon as a source of mutual trust and coordination. Indeed, the SCO has all the features of a multipolar platform.

The SCO, jointly established by China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan in 2001, is an equality-based, development-oriented platform which Belarus naturally wanted to join, not least because the country had already developed partnerships with all its founding members. In particular, Russia and China occupy a special place in Belarus' foreign policy.

Like many other countries, Belarus welcomes the open nature of the SCO. Belarus' relations with SCO member states, and its status as a dialogue partner and observer of the organization, allowed it to take part in the development of the organization's principles, and accumulate sound knowledge about the workings of the SCO. Hence, the inclusion of Belarus as a full SCO member in 2024 was the recognition of the country's efforts to promote the common cause of the "SCO family".

The importance of the SCO for Belarus lies in the need to create a success story for the international community. It is important to develop a parallel economic, ideological, cultural and humanitarian reality — rather than an alternative — which would facilitate full-fledged dialogue.

Intra-SCO cooperation will create new opportunities in various fields. Security, counterterrorism, finance, logistics, food security, technological sovereignty, cultural and humanitarian issues are subjects that facilitate interstate interaction. And Belarus has something to offer its SCO partners in almost all fields.

In addition, Belarus has for years been promoting the idea of "integration of integrations", advocating for coalescing the SCO and BRICS formats with those of the Eurasian Economic Union and the Commonwealth of Independent States. The deepening of cooperation in such a multipolar, multifaceted setup will create the world's largest space for development and security. For Belarus, full membership of the SCO will help it integrate with the global economy, and play a responsible role for the organization.

The author is an analyst with the Belarusian Institute of Strategic Research. The views don't necessarily represent those of China Daily.

If you have a specific expertise, or would like to share your thought about our stories, then send us your writings at opinion@chinadaily.com.cn, and comment@chinadaily.com.cn.