SCO SUMMIT CHINA: Shift of Global Power from West to East II

Dr. Syed Mehboob

Senior Business and Political Analyst

http//: www.thenewslark.com

Email:drmehboob.thenewslark@gmail.com

TheShanghai Cooperation Organization ( SCO) is the first international organization named after a very beautiful Chinese city, “ Shanghai”. Last year in the month of September, I visited there. The SCO has its headquarters in Shanghai. Over the past twenty-four years, since the SCO foundation, it has upheld the Shanghai Spirit of mutual trust, mutual benefits, equality, consultation, diversity of conizations, and pursuit of common development, maintaining a robust momentum of growth. Today, the SCO has grown into a well-connected family of twenty-seven countries, covering regions across Asia, Europe, and Africa, with a population approaching half of the world’s total and an economic aggregate for one quarter of the global total, making it a regional cooperation organization with the largest population, the widest geographical coverage, and the greatest development potential in today’s world. The Tianjin Summit is the fifth SCO summit hosted by the People’s Republic of China. This was the largest ever summit. President Xi Jinping, who is now one of the most popular leaders in the world, chaired the meeting of the Council of Heads of States and the “ SCO Plus” meeting, engaged with twenty-three foreign leaders of their representatives and ten heads of international organizations to renew the pledge for friendship, cooperation, and development.

This summit has paved the way for high-quality development, prosperity, and the sharing of resources. President Xi Jinping put five key propositions i.e. “ seek common ground while putting aside difference, pursue mutual benefit and win-win situation, champion openness and inclusiveness, uphold fairness and justice, and strive for real results and high efficiency. These five aspects are consistent with the Shanghai Spirit and enrich it with new dimensions, receiving high praise and positive response from the participating leaders. This is the most fruitful summit. Members of the SCO family had in-depth exchanges of views on promoting the Shanghai Spirit and advancing the development of the SCO, put forward a series of proposals and propositions, and reached extensive common understandings.

Since taking over the rotating chair of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in July 2024, China has adhered to action oriented and pragmatic approaches, organizing more than 200 events, issuing 92 outcome documents , and proposing 36 important cooperation initiatives. China has fulfilled its promise to host a friendly, united, pragmatic, and fruitful summit, leaving a distinct “Chinese imprint” and advancing the SCO into a new stage of high-quality development featuring stronger solidarity, coordination, dynamism and productiveness, which will surely become an important milestone in the history of the SCO’s development.

Participation of International Guests

President Xi Jinping, on the occasion, stressed promoting the high-quality implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative.  He called on the member states to leverage the strengths of their mega-sized markets and economic complementarity between them and improve trade and investment facilitation. President Xi Jinping delivered a very comprehensive and important speech at the Welcoming Banquet of the Shanghai Cooperation Summit ( SCO) . Following is the excerpt of his speech:-

Dear Colleagues,

Distinguished Guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Friends,

Good evening. Tonight, we are gathered here by the glittering banks of the Haihe River in Tianjin, a city defined by its embrace of waters from all corners. On behalf of the Chinese government and people, I welcome all our distinguished guests to Tianjin.

Today is a joyful day for leaders of SCO member states to have this happy gathering with old and new friends. It is also the Independence Day of Kyrgyzstan and the National Day of Malaysia. I wish to take this opportunity to offer our heartfelt congratulations to President Sadyr Japarov, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, and the friendly peoples of Kyrgyzstan and Malaysia.

Tianjin is an open and inclusive metropolis. It has served as a strategic guardian city for our nation’s capital throughout history, and pioneered China’s reform and opening up as a pilot zone. In recent years, Tianjin has implemented the national strategy of Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei coordinated development, and written its new and dynamic chapter in advancing Chinese modernization. We believe that as the host of this Summit, Tianjin will give fresh impetus to the sustainable development of our Organization.

Since its founding, the SCO has stayed committed to the Shanghai Spirit, strengthening solidarity and mutual trust, deepening practical cooperation, and taking an active part in international and regional affairs. The SCO has grown into a significant force in promoting a new type of international relations and building a community with a shared future for humanity.

At present, the century-defining transformation is accelerating across the world, with a marked increase in factors of instability, uncertainty, and unpredictability. The SCO thus bears an even greater responsibility for maintaining regional peace and stability and promoting development and prosperity of all countries.

At this Summit, we are tasked with an important mission: to build consensus among all parties, ignite momentum for cooperation, and draw up a blueprint for development. Tomorrow, I will join our colleagues at the Meeting of the Council of Heads of Member States. We will also convene the “SCO Plus” Meeting with leaders of non-SCO members and international organizations. We will focus on how to strengthen cooperation, promote development, and improve global governance.

I am confident that with the collective efforts of all parties, this Summit will be a complete success and the SCO will play an even greater role, achieve greater development, and make a greater contribution to strengthening solidarity and cooperation among the member states, pooling the strength of the Global South, and promoting the cause of human advancement.

As a Chinese saying goes, “In a race of a hundred boats, those who row the hardest will lead.” Let us uphold the Shanghai Spirit and set out from Tianjin on a new voyage filled with hope toward an even brighter future.