Chinese President Xi Jinping attended the 24th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Astana, Kazakhstan on Thursday, delivering a keynote speech focused on strengthening cooperation and coordination within the SCO framework in multiple fields.
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev chaired the meeting, which was also attended by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Iran's Interim President Mohammad Mokhber, Indian representative and the SCO Secretary-General.
Xi had a group photo taken with the other leaders before attending the meeting.
In addressing the meeting, Xi spoke highly of Kazakhstan's active efforts and important contributions as the rotating chair to enhance the operational mechanisms of the SCO and deepen cooperation in various fields. He welcomed Belarus to attend the SCO summit as a member state for the first time.
Xi pointed out that the SCO was founded at the turn of the century when confrontations and divisions left by the Cold War had yet to be resolved. The SCO founding members made a historical decision to pursue peaceful development, commit to good-neighborliness and friendship, and build a new type of international relations, Xi said, adding that the "Shanghai Spirit" has become a shared value and guiding principle for the member states.
Noting that the SCO has had its 10th member state since its establishment 23 years ago, Xi said the foundation for SCO cooperation has become more solid as the SCO "big family" has growing membership which covers three continents around the world. As the world is faced with accelerating changes unseen in a century, the human society is standing at a crossroads of history again, Xi said.
Xi pointed out that the SCO stands on the right side of history, fairness and justice, and is of great significance to the world.
Xi emphasized the importance of guarding the bottom line of security in the face of real threat of the Cold War mentality.
He urged the member states to adhere to the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, address complex and intertwined security challenges through dialogue and coordination, and respond to the profoundly changing international landscape with an all-win approach, so as to build a world of lasting peace and universal security.
Xi also called on SCO members to safeguard the right to development in the face of real risks from "small yard, high fences."
Xi noted that SCO members should adhere to mutual benefits and inclusiveness, join hands to push for scientific and technological innovation, keep industrial and supply chains stable and smooth, stimulate the internal impetus of regional economies, and work towards common development goals.
SCO members should consolidate unity and jointly oppose external interference in the face of real challenges of outside interference and division, he said. The SCO members should firmly support one another, accommodate one another's concerns, handle internal differences with a spirit of harmony, and resolve cooperation difficulties by seeking common ground while reserving differences, and firmly grasp the destiny of our countries and the peace and development of the region in our own hands, Xi said.
Xi emphasized that the SCO has been able to withstand the test of ever-changing international circumstances due to the members' steadfast adherence to the fine tradition of solidarity and cooperation, the way of equality and mutual benefit, the pursuit of fairness and justice, and the broad-mindedness of inclusiveness and mutual learning.
He called on the member states to stay true to the original aspiration, continue to hold high the banner of the "Shanghai Spirit", help one another to achieve mutual success, jointly maintain the direction of development of the SCO, and build the SCO into reliable backing for common prosperity and rejuvenation of its member states.
The attending leaders of member states spoke highly of the constructive role played by the SCO in maintaining regional peace and security, pledging to further strengthen cooperation in areas of trade, transportation, energy, finance, agriculture, digital economy, scientific and technological innovation, and deepen cooperation in education, culture, tourism, and youth exchanges.
The leaders recognized that the current world political and economic situation and international relations are undergoing significant changes, and the United Nations should play its central and coordinating role in promoting the building of a more representative, democratic and just multipolar world system and the inclusive globalization that is inclusive and that benefits all.
They stressed the importance of respecting the legitimate security concerns of all countries and resolving international disputes through peaceful means, rejecting unilateral sanctions and outside interference in the internal affairs of other nations.
The leaders agreed to enhance the SCO's mechanism for tackling security threats and challenges, resolutely fight the three evil forces of terrorism, separatism and extremism, drug trafficking and transnational organized crime, support international efforts for peace and development in Afghanistan and for a comprehensive and just resolution of the Palestinian issue based on the two-state solution.
The SCO summit adopted the Astana Declaration, approved the SCO initiative on solidarity among all countries for justice, harmony and development of the world and the proposals on improving the operational mechanism of the SCO, and issued a statement on the principles of good neighborliness, mutual trust and partnership and a series of resolutions on cooperation in energy, investment and information security.
The meeting formally approved Belarus' accession to the SCO and decided that China would take over the SCO rotating chair after the summit.
Xi attends SCO summit
Xi attends SCO summit
