A senior media professional lauds the role of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in ensuring security in the region, saying that without security, the economic growth cannot be achieved.
Jonathan Campion, senior editor with the Bishkek-based Times of Central Asia, made the remarks in an interview with the China Global Central Television (CGTN) via video link days ahead of the 24th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Astana, Kazakhstan.
Campion said he totally agrees with the vision shared by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi who delivered a speech at the meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization member states in Astana in late May. The meeting was a preparation for the July's SCO summit.
After 23 years of joint efforts, member states have successfully built the SCO into a security barrier, a bridge of cooperation, and a constructive force in the region, Wang said in his speech.
According to Campion, the SCO has the potential to significantly contribute to enhancing security and economic prosperity in Central Asia, a region currently grappling with serious security challenges.
"The SCO could play a significant role in building security and economic prosperity in the region. Sadly, security is one of the most serious problems that Central Asia faces right now. Countries are faced with new realities, such as threats of terrorism and integrating Afghanistan led by the Taliban regime into the international order. And it's interesting to see how the countries of Central Asia will address these problems together. We've seen from recent terrorist attacks in Russia. But sadly, the security problem in the region is far from being resolved. Now terrorism presents cross-border challenges requiring cross-border solutions. And I think that international organizations such as the SCO can play a constructive role in building regional cooperation to counter violent extremism," he said.
Campion said that without security, economic progress is unattainable.
"Just to refer again to economic prosperity. Without security, you can't have economic progress. The SCO promotes economic cooperation through trade agreements and major infrastructure projects," he said.
From July 2 to 6, Chinese President Xi Jinping will attend the 24th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Astana, and pay state visits to Kazakhstan and Tajikistan at the invitation of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of the Republic of Kazakhstan and President Emomali Rahmon of the Republic of Tajikistan.
Media professional thumbs up SCO's role in ensuring security
