Chinese President Xi Jinping addresses the 23rd meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) via video conference from Beijing, capital of China, July 4, 2023. (Xinhua/Li Xueren)

Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Tuesday that the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) must rise to the call of the times, keep in mind its founding mission, and stay in unity and coordination to bring more certainty and positive energy to world peace and development.

Xi made the remarks when addressing the 23rd meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) via video conference from Beijing.

SCO GROWTH

Xi said ten years ago, in view of the changes of the world, of the times and of the trajectory of history, he opined that mankind, living in the same global village, are increasingly becoming a community with a shared future in which everyone's interest is closely interlinked.

Since then, the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind has gained extensive recognition and support from the international community, and has been transforming from an idea to action and a vision to reality. At the forefront of this trend is the SCO, upholding this very concept and the Shanghai Spirit to build an SCO community with a shared future, Xi said.

Member states have followed their fine tradition of standing together through thick and thin, as passengers in the same boat should do, and have firmly supported each other in standing up for their respective core interests and have become trustworthy partners on their paths to development and national rejuvenation, Xi said.

Member states have acted out the concept of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, accommodated each other's legitimate security concerns, and responded to both traditional and nontraditional security challenges. Together member states have safeguarded peace and tranquility in the region, he said.

Chinese President Xi Jinping addresses the 23rd meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) via video conference from Beijing, capital of China, July 4, 2023. (Xinhua/Liu Bin)

Xi pointed out that member states have embraced the development philosophy of innovative, coordinated, green, open and shared growth, synergized national development strategies and regional cooperation initiatives, which has helped promote coordination in the economic development.

Member states have carried forward the spirit of good-neighborliness, and advocated equality, mutual learning, dialogue and inclusiveness between civilizations, and called for peaceful coexistence and harmonious development of different civilizations, he said.

He noted member states have upheld international fairness and justice, opposed hegemonic, high-handed, and bullying acts, and built partnerships featuring dialogue instead of confrontation, cooperation instead of alliance, strengthening the progressive forces for world peace and stability.

"More and more countries have realized that the SCO is not an exclusive 'small circle,' but a new type of international organization with vitality and openness. The accession of new members will help the SCO play a positive role on a larger scale," said Li Yongquan, an expert with the Development Research Center of the State Council of China.

Leaders attending the summit spoke highly of the remarkable achievements of the SCO in its development, welcoming Iran to become a full member and hoping Belarus will complete the procedures for joining the SCO as soon as possible.

They noted that the SCO has been growing with increasing international influence, making important contributions to deepening good-neighborliness and friendship, safeguarding the common interests of member states, promoting lasting peace and stability in the region and the world, and promoting sustainable development. They said it has become a model of mutual trust, equal dialogue and mutually beneficial cooperation.

They said member states should further carry forward the Shanghai Spirit, enhance mutual understanding and cooperation, promote regional economic cooperation, and oppose ideological confrontation, division and discrimination.

They agreed member states should strengthen regional connectivity and the building of major corridors, support the synergy of the Belt and Road Initiative with the building of the Eurasian Economic Union, deepen cooperation in economy, trade, finance, energy, science and technology, environmental protection, digital economy and people-to-people exchanges, and jointly address global challenges such as the food and energy crises and climate change.

They also called for joint efforts to combat the forces of terrorism, separatism and extremism and uphold genuine multilateralism, support the United Nations in playing a leading role and strengthen global governance.

It was decided at the summit that Kazakhstan will take over the rotating presidency of the SCO in 2023-2024.

The summit was hosted by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, gathering Xi and leaders from member states Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan as well as observer states Belarus, Iran, and Mongolia.