Chinese FM makes five-pronged proposal for SCO development

TASHKENT -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Tuesday made a five-pronged proposal for the development of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), calling on all member states to expand and strengthen their cooperation with more effective measures and better coordination.

For starters, he urged all members to strengthen political mutual trust and unity. While promoting the "Shanghai Spirit," featuring mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, consultation, respect for cultural diversity and pursuit of common development, Wang called for firm and mutual support inside the SCO on major issues involving core interests of member states.

As for security risks challenging the region, Wang asked SCO members to strengthen their cooperation in such fields as counter-terrorism intelligence communication, crisis warning, emergency management and joint law enforcement, among others.

Members should take strict measures to prevent infiltration of extreme terrorist forces, build network sovereignty awareness, curb drug overflow and play an active role in promoting stability and security in Afghanistan, said Wang.

As to practical cooperation inside the SCO, Wang said China stands ready to strengthen policy coordination and alignment of development strategies with other members, based on the joint construction of the Silk Road Economic Belt.

Fourth, Wang called for the gradual expansion of SCO membership. The inclusion of more members into the SCO demonstrates the vitality of the organization and its bright future, marking that the SCO is stepping into a maturer new stage. China is in favor of gradually enlarging SCO's membership on the basis of consensus, he said.

Fifth, Wang said people-to-people links should be cemented and mutual understanding among the peoples should improve. According to Wang, China has taken the lead in establishing institutions such as the China-SCO Environmental Protection Center and a committee for good-neighborliness, along with initiating other plans.