Member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and Foreign Minister Wang Yi attended the meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) member states in Kyrgyzstan on July 24. The meeting was attended by foreign ministers of SCO member states, the SCO Secretary-General, and the Director of the Executive Committee of the SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure.
Wang Yi stated that the Tianjin SCO Summit had outlined the strategic vision for the organisation's development over the next ten years and opened a new stage of its high-quality development. Over the past year, the Chinese side implemented significant initiatives by President Xi Jinping and provided impetus for regional development through "Chinese actions." All seven application platforms — for green industry, digital economy, scientific and technological innovation, energy, higher education, vocational and technical education, and artificial intelligence — were launched, generating more than 160 projects.
Wang Yi further stated that this year marks the 25th anniversary of the founding of the SCO. From the initial six states strengthening military trust in border areas and combating the "three forces" (terrorism, separatism, and extremism), to the current 27 countries and nearly half of the world's population cooperating in more than 50 areas, the SCO has consistently upheld the "Shanghai Spirit" — mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, consultation, respect for the diversity of civilisations, and the pursuit of common development — and has increasingly blazed a trail for a new type of international relations and multilateral cooperation. At a time when century-long changes are accelerating and the world is beset by turmoil and transformation, the international community expects the SCO to support regional security and development and help address global governance challenges. The ten-year development strategy clearly states that member states will cooperate even more closely and contribute more to building a more democratic and equitable multipolar world.
Wang Yi put forward four proposals:
First, to recognise the "Shanghai Spirit" as a guiding star. It should always be regarded as the fundamental guide in handling the organisation's internal affairs and external relations, strengthening strategic mutual trust, maintaining solidarity and coordination, firmly supporting one another, remaining open and inclusive, and letting the "Shanghai Spirit" illuminate the path towards a community with a shared future for humanity.
Second, to build a firewall of peace and stability. It is necessary to persistently advocate resolving disputes through dialogue, settling differences through consultations, and protecting peace through cooperation, and to properly address regional and international hotspot issues.
Third, to unleash the driving force of win-win cooperation. It is necessary to strengthen the alignment of national development strategies with regional cooperation initiatives, build the Belt and Road Initiative in a high-quality manner, create new growth points in trade and investment, connectivity, scientific and technological innovation, green industry, the digital economy, and artificial intelligence, jointly stabilise industrial and supply chains, and bring more fruits of development.
Fourth, to create a model zone for global governance. It is necessary to uphold the authority and role of the United Nations, the principles and purposes of the UN Charter, and the basic norms of international relations, and together with nearly 160 participants of the Global Governance Initiative and more than 120 UN member states supporting the deepening of cooperation with the SCO, to seek an effective model of global governance with broad participation. The SCO should also improve its own operational mechanisms and welcome more countries to become its members.
Wang Yi noted that this year marks the 105th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China and is also the first year of China's 15th Five-Year Plan. China, led by the CPC, will forever be a builder of world peace, a contributor to global development, and a defender of the international order. The SCO has been and remains an important priority direction of China's neighbourhood diplomacy. China is ready to work together with member states in the new stage of the SCO's high-quality development to further carry forward the "Shanghai Spirit," make the organisation more substantive and stronger, and jointly open up a beautiful future for the region and bright prospects for the world.
The meeting adopted the "Declaration of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Member States" and signed relevant resolutions concerning the preparation of the SCO Bishkek Summit.
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