The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) welcomed Belarus as its 10th member state during the 24th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State in Astana on Thursday. This significant expansion underscores the growing appeal of the SCO’s commitment to mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, consultation, and shared development—principles known collectively as the Shanghai Spirit.
New Milestones in Regional Connectivity
On Wednesday, the opening ceremony of the Trans-Caspian International Transportation Route was held in Kazakhstan. This event marked the inaugural journey of Chinese trucks utilizing a road transport route to reach the Caspian Sea. Prior to this, China-Europe freight trains traversing the Caspian Sea had been operating seamlessly for two years. The addition of this road route complements an already comprehensive, multi-dimensional transportation network integrating road, rail, air, and pipeline modalities.
As founding members of the SCO, China and Kazakhstan’s collaboration on this project exemplifies the organization’s ethos of cooperative development. The enhanced connectivity is expected to stimulate economic growth and strengthen ties among member states.
Commitment to Global Security
Chinese President Xi Jinping addressed the SCO summit, emphasizing the need for member states to address security challenges through dialogue and coordination. He highlighted the importance of rejecting Cold War mentalities and adopting a win-win approach to build a world of lasting peace and universal security. “Real security can only be realized when every country is secure,” Xi stated during the “SCO Plus” meeting on Thursday.
The summit concluded with the adoption of the Astana Declaration, where member states pledged to continue counter-terrorism cooperation and intensify efforts against drug trafficking and transnational organized crime. The declaration also called for global nuclear nonproliferation and opposed an arms race in outer space.
Enhancing Mutual Economic Benefits
President Xi urged member states to pursue mutual benefits and inclusiveness, aiming to keep industrial and supply chains stable and to stimulate regional economies. China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has been instrumental in promoting economic cooperation among SCO members.
A landmark project under the BRI is the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway. In June, the three countries signed an intergovernmental agreement to advance the project. Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev noted that the railway would become the shortest land route linking China and Central Asian countries, opening access to markets in South Asia and the Middle East and fostering regional cooperation.
The proposed railway will begin in Kashgar, located in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, and traverse Kyrgyzstan before entering Uzbekistan. Future expansions envision extensions to West Asia and South Asia, further enhancing connectivity.
A Vision for an Open World Economy
In a joint initiative released on Thursday, SCO members emphasized the importance of defending and strengthening an open, transparent, and inclusive multilateral trading system. They advocated for building an open world economy and recognized the strategic opportunity presented by the SCO’s expansive coverage—over 60 percent of the Eurasian continent and nearly half of the world’s population.
The members acknowledged that current global security risks demand collective action. “These challenges can only be resolved through the building of a multipolar world, the improvement of global economic governance, and coordinated efforts to tackle both conventional and non-conventional security threats,” they stated.
Reference(s):
SCO's 'big family' expands, ushers in new chapter of cooperation
cgtn.com
