China to further contribute to SCO development as rotating chair: secretary-general

China is committed to promoting practical cooperation and sustainable development of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) as its rotating chair, said the organization's secretary-general Zhang Ming on Monday.

Zhang expressed the confidence that China's work plan as SCO chair will achieve greater progress at an interview with China Central Television (CCTV).

"One of the key features of China's work plan as the SCO chair is pragmatism. We expect the SCO to take action and achieve greater progress under China's guidance in the coming year," said Zhang.

Next year marks the SCO Year of Sustainable Development, said the secretary-general, adding that China's presidency will focus on advancing practical cooperation centered around sustainability.

"Sustainable development is an essential and urgent mission for SCO member states, other countries in the world, and the international community as a whole. Humanity faces numerous challenges, and I believe sustainable development is an important key to open the door to future development," Zhang said.

China to further contribute to SCO development as rotating chair: secretary-general

Shanghai, China's financial hub, and several other eastern Chinese cities have been flooded due to Typhoon Pulasan, and drainage efforts are in full swing.

Pulasan, the 14th typhoon of the year, made its second landfall in Shanghai's Fengxian District at around 21:45 on Thursday after first making landfall earlier that day in Zhejiang Province.

Since midnight on Friday, parts of Shanghai's Pudong New Area have experienced increasingly heavy rainfall, resulting in flooded streets and temporary school closures.

Local authorities have intensified drainage efforts on waterlogged roads and in swamped neighborhoods.

Similarly, in neighboring Jiangsu Province, Rugao, a county-level city, was hit by a downpour from 7:00 to 17:00 on Friday. By 18:00, local firefighters had responded to more than 60 cases, carrying out drainage and rescue operations.

Typhoon Pulasan deluges eastern Chinese cities