China News Service, Beijing, June 15 (Reporter Xing Chong) June 15, 2021 is the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

When asked how China evaluates the achievements of the SCO in the past 20 years since its establishment, the spokesperson of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Zhao Lijian summarized it from five aspects at a regular press conference: advanced cooperation concepts, promotion of bilateral relations, and maintenance Regional security and stability have promoted the common development of all countries and set a benchmark for multilateralism.

The spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Zhao Lijian.

Photo by Xue Wei

　　Zhao Lijian said that in the past 20 years, the SCO has experienced international vicissitudes and successfully explored a new type of regional organization’s cooperation and development path. It has played an important and constructive role in promoting regional security, stability, development and prosperity, and has also contributed to building a new type of international relations and development. A community with a shared future for mankind made important practical explorations.

The main achievements can be summarized as follows:

　　——Proposed advanced cooperation concepts.

Following the trend of the times of peace and development, the SCO creatively proposed the "Shanghai Spirit" with "mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, consultation, respect for diverse civilizations, and seeking common development" as the content, forming a harmonious coexistence between countries with different social systems and development paths. New cooperation model.

　　——Promoted the development of bilateral relations.

The member states adhere to the principles of non-alignment, non-confrontation, and non-targeting of third parties, and constantly enhance political mutual trust and good-neighborly friendship.

All parties have used SCO summits and other occasions to conduct intensive high-level exchanges, communicate and coordinate closely on major international and regional issues, and support each other on issues involving each other’s core interests and major concerns, and take practical actions to interpret the profound connotation of sharing a common destiny.

　　-Maintained regional security and stability.

The SCO always prioritizes security cooperation. It has ratified anti-terrorism conventions, anti-extremism conventions and other heavyweight legal documents, comprehensively promotes cooperation in areas such as counter-terrorism, drug control, border defense, and information security, and regularly holds joint counter-terrorism exercises. The "SCO-Afghanistan Liaison Group" promotes the peace and reconciliation process in Afghanistan and creates a peaceful and stable development environment for countries in the region.

　　——Promoting the common development of all countries.

The SCO has established cooperation mechanisms in economy and trade, transportation, finance, agriculture, and local governments. It has promoted the joint construction of the "Belt and Road" initiative with the development strategies and regional cooperation initiatives of various countries, and has created culture, education, tourism, environmental protection, youth, women, etc. A large number of cooperation projects that are grounded in the field and benefit the people's livelihood have injected a strong impetus into the development and revitalization of various countries.

　　——Set a benchmark for multilateralism.

The SCO firmly upholds international fairness and justice. It has made a resounding “SCO voice” on defending multilateralism, opposing unilateralism and protectionism, promoting unity to fight the epidemic and opposing the politicization of the epidemic, and clarifying its “SCO position” on politics. To resolve regional hotspot issues and propose a "Shanghai Cooperation Plan", closely communicate and coordinate with observer countries and dialogue partners, and carry out extensive cooperation with international and regional organizations such as the United Nations, ASEAN, and the Commonwealth of Independent States to jointly promote the development of the international order in a more just and reasonable direction .

　　Zhao Lijian said that this year marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and is a milestone in the history of the development of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

On the evening of the 15th, the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and the Secretariat of the SCO jointly hosted the "SCO Day" reception. State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi will deliver a video speech, summarizing and reviewing the extraordinary development of the SCO in the past 20 years. Looking forward to a bright vision for the future development of the SCO.

　　Zhao Lijian also said that in addition, all member states of the SCO will hold various activities during the year to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the SCO.

China hosted the SCO Civil Friendship Forum not long ago. In the next phase, a series of activities will be organized around themes such as state governance, digital economy, traditional medicine, women's education, and poverty reduction. All parties are welcome to participate actively at that time.

　　Zhao Lijian said that as a founding member of the SCO, China is willing to implement the consensus reached between President Xi Jinping and heads of state, vigorously promote the "Shanghai Spirit", and continuously deepen cooperation in various fields to create a closer SCO community with a shared future for the region. And even the people of all countries in the world bring greater well-being.

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