Xi stresses building closer SCO community with shared future

Chinese President Xi Jinping addresses the 21st meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization via video link in Beijing on Sept 17, 2021. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

BEIJING – Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday stressed building a closer community with a shared future for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and making greater contributions to the lasting peace and common prosperity of the world.   

Xi made the remarks while addressing the 21st meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the SCO via video link. 

Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) countries should stay committed to openness and cooperation to facilitate each other's development and rejuvenation, President Xi Jinping said

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The SCO has made important explorations in both theories and practice for building a new type of international relations and a community with a shared future for humanity, Xi noted.

The past 20 years have seen the vigorous growth of the SCO and the fruitful, mutually beneficial cooperation among its member states, Xi said.

Over the past two decades, guided by the Shanghai Spirit of mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, consultation, respect for diversity of civilizations and pursuit of common development, the SCO has endeavored to promote world peace, development and human progress, Xi said.

The SCO has jointly promoted political mutual trust, ensured security and stability, pursued prosperity and development and upheld international justice, he said.

Xi called on SCO countries to follow the journey of enhancing solidarity and cooperation, upholding their common security, promoting openness and integration, boosting interactions and mutual learning, and upholding equity and justice.

SCO countries should firmly hold the destiny of development and progress in their own hands, Xi said. 

The countries should maintain confidence in their systems, reject condescending lecturing, and firmly support countries in exploring development paths and governance models that are compatible with their national conditions, Xi said.

He added that SCO countries should support each other in steadily advancing important political agenda including domestic elections.

"We must never allow any external interference in the domestic affairs of countries in our region under whatever pretext," Xi said.

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SCO countries should stay committed to openness and cooperation to facilitate each other's development and rejuvenation, Xi said.

China will help countries in need strengthen capacity-building and improve people's livelihood, and make due contributions to humanity's complete victory over the COVID-19 pandemic, Xi said

All SCO countries are at a critical stage of development, and they need to give full play to unique strengths of being close to each other and sharing common interests, Xi said. 

The Chinese president stressed the need to follow the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and pursue shared benefits through extensive consultation and joint contribution in dealing with international affairs.

He also emphasized the need to practice true multilateralism and oppose actions that use the name of so-called rules to undermine the international order and cause confrontation and division.

"We need to boost mutually beneficial cooperation, remove trade, investment and technology barriers, and promote inclusive development that delivers benefits to all," said Xi.

China will help countries in need strengthen capacity-building and improve people's livelihood, said the president.

In the next three years, China will provide 1,000 training opportunities in poverty alleviation for other SCO countries, open 10 Luban Workshops, and launch 30 cooperation projects in such areas as health, poverty relief, culture and education under the framework of the Silk Road Community Building Initiative, he said.

"This will help countries in need build capacity and improve the lives of their people," Xi said.

He also said that China will make due contributions to humanity's complete victory over the COVID-19 pandemic.

China has provided close to 1.2 billion doses of finished and bulk vaccines to over 100 countries and international organizations, thus becoming the biggest vaccine provider in the world, Xi said. 

China will step up efforts to provide a total of 2 billion doses to other countries in the course of this year, according to Xi. 

"We will deepen anti-COVID cooperation with other developing countries, make good use of China's donation of US$100 million to COVAX, and make our due contribution to humanity's ultimate victory over the virus," Xi said.

READ MORE: Full text of President Xi's remarks at 21st SCO meeting