President to work with other leaders to chart organization's growth, path

 

President Xi Jinping will attend via video conference in Beijing on Tuesday the 23rd Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, a regional bloc covering over a third of the world's population.

 

Xi will deliver important remarks at the meeting and work together with other participating leaders to chart the course for the future growth of the organization, according to the Foreign Ministry.

 

"We believe that with the concerted efforts of all parties, the SCO will achieve greater progress and contribute to the prosperity of regional countries," ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning told a regular press briefing on Friday.

 

The upcoming summit, held amid international instability and regional conflicts including the Ukraine crisis, is expected to further unite countries across Eurasia and voice their call for practicing true multilateralism, observers said.

 

Li Yonghui, a researcher of Russian studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said, "Over the years since its establishment, the SCO has been committed to the Shanghai spirit which highlights mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, consultation, respect for diversity of civilizations and pursuit of common development."

 

With all members working toward the same goals, the organization will develop into an important force for promoting peace, stability and cooperation in the region, Li said.

 

Founded in 2001 by China, Russia and four Central Asian countries — Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan — the SCO now has eight official members, four observer states and 14 dialogue partners. Last year, the SCO summit in Samarkand, Kazakhstan, launched the procedure for Belarus' accession and started the admission of Iran as a full member of the organization. Iran's permanent membership will be finalized at the upcoming summit.

 

The United Arab Emirates became the latest dialogue partner of the SCO in May, following Saudi Arabia's decision to join the organization as a dialogue partner after the approval in March of a Memorandum of Understanding.

 

Insiders said that after China succeeded in brokering an agreement between Saudi Arabia and Iran to restore diplomatic ties, it can be expected that more countries, especially in the Middle East, will be willing to join the SCO.

 

Rong Ying, vice-president of the China Institute of International Studies, said that given the organization's growing influence, the SCO has become a preferred choice for regional countries to engage in multilateral cooperation.

 

"Under the current circumstances, it is important that the SCO meets challenges head on, upholds international fairness and justice, and secures the legitimate rights and interests of its members and all other developing countries," he said.

 

Mao, the ministry spokeswoman, said that as a founding member, China views the SCO as a priority in its foreign affairs and stands ready to work with other members to act on the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative.

 

She also said that China will join in efforts to build an even closer SCO community with a shared future.