Opinion
A Committed Partnership
SCO member states stand united on regional cooperation
By Li Yonghui & Liu Hao  ·  2019-06-24  ·   Source: NO.26 JUNE 27, 2019

Chinese President Xi Jinping addresses the 19th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on June 14 (XINHUA)

The 19th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) was held in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on June 13-14. Addressing leaders from across Eurasia, Chinese President Xi Jinping called on members of the SCO to build a closer community with a shared future. The leaders signed the Bishkek Declaration following the meeting.

The member countries also vowed to observe the Shanghai Spirit, which features mutual benefit, equality, consultation and respect of diverse civilizations along with common development, shaping the SCO into a model comprehensive regional cooperation mechanism and highlighting unity and mutual trust, as well as inclusiveness and mutual learning.

Mutual trust and security

Security is the foundation of development. The stable development of the SCO has contributed to promoting regional safety and stability. However, the region still confronts the challenges of terrorism, drug crimes and information security. Speaking at the summit, Xi proposed turning the SCO into a model group that shares weal and woe. He called on member countries to hold fast to the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, implement multiple measures including information sharing, law enforcement and joint action to combat the three evil forces of terrorism, separatism and extremism, and enhance de-extremalization cooperation.

The Bishkek Declaration addressed concerns about the security situation in Afghanistan, since it is one of the major factors affecting SCO regional security and stability. In recent years, the Afghan Government and people have made great efforts to reconstruct their country, promote economic development and combat extremism and terrorism. SCO members stressed that there is no alternative to settling the conflict in Afghanistan other than through political dialogue and an inclusive peace process conducted and led by Afghans themselves. They called on the international community to deepen global cooperation in fighting terrorism and promoting the development of Afghanistan, with the United Nations playing a leading role.

Thus, it is important to deepen cooperation in the multilateral mechanisms of the SCO-Afghanistan Contact Group and the Moscow Model. Xi's speech showed China's willingness to contribute to the reconciliation of Afghanistan and deepen cooperation in various fields through the SCO-Afghanistan Contact Group.

To promote regional peace, the Bishkek Declaration also called on SCO members to deepen cooperation in disarmament, arms control, nuclear non-proliferation and peaceful utilization of nuclear energy. Moreover, SCO member countries committed to address the regional challenges of nuclear non-proliferation through diplomatic means.

Economic cooperation

The combined economy of SCO countries—which makes up over one fifth of the world economy—is replete with resources and market opportunities. Amid the international financial crisis and trade tensions in the past years, member states have seen a slowdown in economic growth and are aspiring toward greater regional trade cooperation. To build the SCO into a model mechanism that stresses mutual benefits and win-win results, Xi called on SCO members to advocate a multilateral trading system, build an open world economy and put forward more institutional arrangements in trade and investment liberalization and facilitation. Since 2013, China has been promoting the Belt and Road Initiative to broaden cooperation within the SCO. It has worked to align the initiative with other member states' development strategies and regional mechanisms such as the Eurasian Economic Union, reflecting its efforts to strengthen cooperation among SCO member countries.

After the launch of the Chinese-proposed initiative, Central Asian countries were among the first countries to support and join it. In recent years, China has signed cooperation documents with most SCO member states and observer states on constructing the new Silk Routes. At the SCO summit, Xi reached more consensuses with other regional leaders on accelerating interconnectivity and advancing development. Many leaders spoke highly of the progress made in the joint construction of the Belt and Road and reiterated support for docking the initiative with the development strategies of their countries.

Connecting their own development plans to Belt and Road cooperation allows them to improve infrastructure and provides an opportunity for shared development. Most importantly, the initiative will offer SCO member countries, particularly Central Asian countries, a chance to become major international transportation hubs. In the foreseeable future, each country would see tangible progress under the SCO's cooperation structure.

Moreover, the SCO now has eight member states, four observer states and six dialogue partners, each with a unique demographic and religious and cultural background. Thus people-to-people exchanges and cooperation within the region are needed to facilitate cultural communication and mutual understanding. The SCO should embrace the vision of inclusiveness and mutual learning to engage the public and sustain long-term development.

Global governance

The current international situation is complicated. Unilateralism and protectionism pose a severe challenge to global economic growth and order, and increase uncertainty about the SCO's external environment for development. However, the irresistible trends of multi-polarization and economic globalization, as well as a new technological revolution and overall industrial transformation, have created new development opportunities for the SCO. Both Xi's speech and the Bishkek Declaration stressed the importance of maintenance of the international system with the UN playing a central role to facilitate multilateralism and free trade. For long-term stability and world peace, the SCO should enhance partnerships, encourage observer states and dialogue partners to participate in regional affairs, cooperate in broader fields and strengthen communication with the UN and other international organizations. Furthermore, SCO member states should adhere to the vision of mutual consultation in global governance to pursue more just, rational and sustainable development.

The declaration particularly underlined the importance of improving the global economic governance system. It urged member states to enhance cooperation and support the multilateral trading system based on rules of the World Trade Organization (WTO), which lay the foundation for a transparent and predictable environment for trade and investment.

In the Bishkek Declaration, SCO members stated that unilateral protectionist measures are against WTO rules, damage the multilateral trading system and pose challenges to the world economy. The WTO is a significant platform for discussing international trade issues and implementing policies on trade order. SCO member states said they will continue to observe the fundamental rules and order of the WTO and contribute to its efficiency and ensure its authority in resolving current challenges to international trade.

Since the founding of the SCO 18 years ago, member states have embraced mutual trust, deepened cooperation in various fields and participated in regional and international affairs. The SCO has played a constructive role in promoting regional peace and maintaining international justice. Upholding the Shanghai Spirit, China holds dear multilateralism, common security, cooperation and an open economy in order to construct a new type of international relations and a shared future for humanity.

Li Yonghui and Liu Hao are a researcher with the Institute of Russian, Eastern European and Central Asian Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and a graduate student, respectively

Copyedited by Rebeca Toledo

Comments to yulintao@bjreview.com

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