During China’s tenure as the rotating chair of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), the country will adhere to the concept of a community with a shared future for humanity. China is determined to lead all parties in promoting the “Shanghai Spirit,” strengthening unity and cooperation, and driving the continuous development of the SCO to keep it at the forefront of contemporary global affairs.
The slogan “Promoting the ‘Shanghai Spirit’: The SCO in Action,” introduced by China after it assumed the rotating presidency in July, clearly indicates that the organization aims to be action-oriented rather than merely a forum for discussion. China has launched a comprehensive agenda for its presidency, organizing over 100 meetings and activities within the SCO framework. These initiatives aim to deepen practical cooperation across various fields and to foster a closer SCO community that reflects shared interests.
The SCO is notable for being the first international organization initiated by China and named after a Chinese city. Over its 20-plus years of existence, the SCO has consistently followed the “Shanghai Spirit,” which has helped reinforce political trust, enhance neighborly friendships, safeguard regional security, and strengthen practical cooperation. This initiative has played a vital role in maintaining global and regional stability and development. From its original six founding members, the SCO has expanded into a “big family” of 26 countries, enhancing its influence, cohesion, and appeal, while establishing a successful model of peaceful development and new international relations.
As the world undergoes significant changes, humanity once again finds itself at a historical crossroads. The SCO stands on the right side of history, advocating for fairness and justice. By fostering unity and collaboration, the organization not only aims for greater development for its member states but also plays a pivotal role in ensuring regional and global peace and stability.
Being a founding member, China has always prioritized the SCO in its diplomatic efforts. In July, President Xi Jinping delivered an important speech at the “SCO+” summit in Astana, advocating for the construction of five “common homes” focused on unity and mutual trust, peace and security, prosperity and development, friendly relations, and fairness and justice. This vision charts a new trajectory for the SCO’s growth. The organization’s vitality stems from its consistent commitment to the “Shanghai Spirit.” Following its presidency, China is committed to collaborating with SCO partners and nations and international organizations that resonate with the “Shanghai Spirit,” creating a brighter future for the construction of a community with a shared future for humanity.
Next year, the 25th meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of State will take place in China, marking a significant event in the SCO framework and the highlight of China’s presidential term. In June 2018, China successfully hosted the SCO Qingdao Summit, laying out a comprehensive roadmap for the organization’s future and achieving a series of important consensus points, which exceeded expectations and became a milestone in the SCO’s development. China aims to host a friendly, united, and fruitful summit next year, consolidating common understanding to design a new blueprint for the SCO’s evolution. The upcoming meetings and activities will focus on five key areas: strengthening political trust, ensuring common security, promoting mutual prosperity, enhancing people-to-people exchanges, and improving the effectiveness of mechanisms, injecting new momentum into the SCO’s development.
Achieving modernization is a shared goal among SCO member states. China proposes designating 2025 as the “Year of Sustainable Development for the SCO,” launching various collaborative initiatives across eight key areas within the Global Development Initiative. This collaboration aims to enhance trade and investment, energy, digital economy, modern agriculture, and green development, while continuously aligning the Belt and Road Initiative with regional countries’ development strategies to support their modernization efforts.
Promoting global governance in a more just and equitable direction is crucial for addressing current global challenges and is also a vital pathway to a better future for humanity. During its presidency, China will release a summit declaration that recalls the 80th anniversaries of China’s victory in the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the founding of the United Nations. This declaration will articulate a unified voice among member states on major international and regional issues, contributing to the collective response to global challenges.
“Unity and cooperation have been the keys to the SCO’s success and are essential for adapting to new circumstances and embarking on new journeys.” In the face of profound changes in the international landscape, China will uphold the concept of a community with a shared future for humanity, steadfastly lead efforts to promote the “Shanghai Spirit,” enhance unity and cooperation, and drive the SCO’s continuous growth to make even greater contributions to regional and global peace, stability, development, and prosperity.
