Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi called on the countries of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO or the Organization) to strengthen unity and actively confront threats from the West. The Chinese minister made such a statement at a March meeting with SCO Secretary General Zhang Ming. Wang Yi congratulated him on taking office on January 1 of this year and highly appreciated the results that the SCO has managed to achieve since its foundation in June 2001.

According to the head of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, it is necessary to develop the “Shanghai spirit” in every possible way, deepen solidarity and interaction between the SCO member states, and actively implement the concept of common, integrated, cooperative and sustainable security. Wang Yi also called for resolute opposition to the revival of the Cold War mentality and the creation of a bloc confrontation. He noted that it is important to categorically oppose illegal unilateral sanctions, respect the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and protect international justice. At the same time, the diplomat stressed that as a host country, China, as before, will support the work of the Secretary General and the SCO secretariat.

In turn, Zhang Ming at the meeting with Wang Yi promised to make a proper contribution to the development of the SCO and noted that the Organization is closely monitoring the situation in Ukraine and hopes for the speedy restoration of peace and common security, as well as for the achievement of lasting peace and stability throughout the world.

It should be noted that the meeting of the Chinese Foreign Minister and the SCO Secretary General once again confirmed that official Beijing attaches great importance to the Organization’s activities and closely monitors what is happening both in the SCO member states and in the world as a whole. It should be noted that Beijing formulated its vision of the SCO’s activities at the present stage back in November last year. Then, speaking via video link at the 20th meeting of the Council of Heads of Government of the SCO member States, Premier of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China Li Keqiang said that China is ready, together with all the member countries of the Organization, to strengthen political mutual trust, deepen practical cooperation and jointly take responsibility for promoting prosperity and stability in the region. According to Li Keqiang, for 20 years since its foundation, the SCO has followed the “Shanghai spirit”, developed it and effectively promoted security and stability in the region and the overall development of the Organization’s member countries.

It is no secret that today the international and regional situation continues to undergo complex and profound changes, and the sustainable development of various countries faces serious challenges. In this regard, Beijing believes that the SCO member states should form a reliable security shield and protect long–term stability and security both in the region and in the world as a whole.

In this regard, Li Keqiang said: “It is necessary to strengthen the foundations of our cooperation in law enforcement and security and implement such legal documents of the SCO as the Program of Cooperation on Combating Terrorism, Separatism and Extremism, and the Convention on Countering Extremism, strengthening cooperation in such areas as combating terrorism and drug trafficking, and information security”.

The Premier of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China also pointed out the need to adhere to the principles of openness and mutual benefit and promote economic recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic in all SCO countries, and also called on the parties to be guided by openness, continuously improve the conditions for trade and investment, increase the scale and improve the quality of trade. “We need to promote interconnectedness and ensure the smooth circulation of the regional economy,” Li Keqiang stressed.

According to him, the SCO countries should use their geographical advantages and promote the formation of transport, energy and communication networks. At the same time, the Premier of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China called on the Organization’s member states to focus on the welfare of the population and contribute to the sustainable development of the economies of the SCO member states.

China also proposes to establish an information exchange system within the Organization for multilateral coordination of emergency response, as well as to establish associations of medical, law and agricultural universities on a voluntary basis in order to continuously increase the breadth and depth of cooperation in the field of sustainable development.

Apparently, the current Secretary General of the SCO in his activities in this high post intends to largely follow the line that the leadership of the PRC adheres to regarding the Organization. At least, such a conclusion can be drawn on the basis of an exclusive interview with Zhang Ming, which he gave to the TASS news agency not so long ago. According to the SCO Secretary General, the Organization has always been committed to playing a constructive role in responding to common threats and challenges to the human community, and intends to adhere to the same policy in the future.

According to Zhang Ming, today’s international situation often changes, instability and uncertainty have increased significantly. According to him, the SCO has always been committed to playing a constructive role in responding to common threats and challenges for the human community. At the same time, he stressed that the Organization is not a military alliance, and there are no confrontational components in its genotype. Proceeding from this, the SCO adheres to the principles of non-alignment and non-directionality with respect to other countries and regions, opposes the solution of the most important international and regional problems through bloc politics, ideology and confrontational thinking.

The SCO member States are committed to strengthening mutual trust, good–neighborliness and friendship, maintaining and strengthening regional peace, security and stability, as well as promoting the economic, social and cultural development of the member States through cooperation. These concepts are concentrated in the “Shanghai spirit” and are a unique “generic sign” of SCO spirituality, Zhang Ming believes. In his opinion, it contains the “source code” for solving the current unresolved problems of the international community.

Also, in accordance with the “Shanghai spirit”, the Organization conducts a broad dialogue and cooperates with various international organizations. The SCO received observer status in the UN General Assembly back in 2004 – in the first years of its existence. The SCO has also established official contacts with the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), etc.

The SCO maintains close contacts with the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO): the secretariats of the two sides signed a memorandum of cooperation in 2007. In September 2021, the heads of the member states of the Organization and the CSTO held the first joint summit on Afghanistan in Dushanbe. Regarding the events in Kazakhstan in January of this year, the SCO and the CSTO took a coordinated position, and each of them made a positive contribution to restoring normal order in society in terms of political diplomacy and military peacemaking.