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Flags of SCO member states. [Photo/CCTV]
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Chinese President Xi Jinping called for efforts to safeguard regional peace and ensure common security in his speech at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit on Tuesday. The historical trend of peace, development, and win-win cooperation is unstoppable, President Xi stressed.
In a world fraught with uncertainties, the SCO – the first intergovernmental organization named after a Chinese city – has been committed to safeguarding regional security and promoting common development. Since its establishment, the blochas been taking joint measures to fight the "three evil forces" of terrorism, extremism, and separatism, and cracking down upon drug trafficking and transnational crimes.
In the past decades, SCO, with multi-level mechanisms, joint anti-terrorism exercises, and deepening cooperation in law enforcement and security, has made concrete contributions to regional security. "SCO countries have the experience actually (on) how to counter terrorism through coordination and by keeping diplomatic engagement with Afghan authorities,” Jalal Bazwan, a lecturer of the Kabul-based Kardan University, said in an interview with Xinhua News Agency.
Over the years, the SCO has evolved from an organization that focuses on security to one with a holistic view, aiming to build a closer community with a shared future. At this year's SCO, member states agreed to deepen cooperation in digital economy, finance, free trade, transportation, and energy – in an attempt to promote regional connectivity and common development.
In his speech, President Xi underlined the need for SCO countries to strengthen strategic communication and collaboration, advocate dialogue to address differences and promote cooperation to avoid competition.
Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang (R4) attends the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) foreign ministers' meeting in Goa, India, May 5, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua]
Under the Shanghai Spirit, the SCO has brought together countries from different regions, cultures, and development paths together, propelling the common growth of the world. As an important platform for the Belt and Road Initiative, the SCO has facilitated a comprehensive infrastructure network in the region.
In June, the China-SCO Local Economic and Trade Cooperation Demonstration Area celebrated its fifth anniversary in China's Qingdao. The Area, apart from sea, air, and road transport, operates 31 international freight train routes reaching 54 cities in 23 countries, including those of the SCO and those along the Belt and Road, according to Xinhua reports.
While certain countries are hyping de-coupling and instigating tensions across the world, the SCO has turned out to be an indispensable force in safeguarding world peace and stability, and building a community with a shared future for mankind. This is why regional countries and members of the international community are looking to the SCO for security and development. This year, Iran has been approved as a full member state at the SCO's Tuesday summit. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani hailed the move as a "positive development" that is in the interest of both Iran and other SCO member states.
The bloc has also started the procedure of Belarus' accession. An increasing number of countries, including Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, the Maldives, Kuwait, Myanmar, and United Arab Emirates have all shown interest in joining and playing a bigger role in the SCO family.
The international community's growing enthusiasm in participating in the SCO proves the reliability and influence of the group. As the world's largest regional organization in geographic scope and population, the SCO has turned out to be indispensable in promoting peace and common growth. This is a fact recognized by an increasing number of countries in the world.
