SCO Countries Huddle to Confront Challenges

Representatives of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) countries and international organizations committed to closer cooperation on confronting regional and global challenges attended the SCO Forum on Governance and Leadership that opened in Beijing on July 27, 2021.

“To respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, promote economic recovery, and ensure global stability, countries need to strengthen awareness of building a community with a shared future for humanity and facilitate communication and exchange for win-win cooperation,” said Chen Xi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and head of China National Academy of Governance.

“Since its establishment two decades ago, the SCO has played an increasingly important role in regional and global affairs,” said Azizi Abdujabbor Abdukahhor, First Deputy Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party of Tajikistan.

Noting that peace and security are essential to the region’s development, Abdukahhor urged SCO countries to forge synergy in curbing the spread of extremism, terrorism, organized cross-border crime, and drug trafficking.

The SCO has demonstrated strength in safeguarding regional security but faces a tougher situation after the U.S. pullout from Afghanistan, according to Le Yucheng, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister.

Le added that SCO countries should continue to work cohesively to address increasing risk and shoulder greater responsibility in ensuring regional security.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted global supply chains and people-to-people exchange, which has led to economic crisis and social problems,” said Grigory Logvinov, Deputy Secretary-General of the SCO.

Logvinov said that the SCO has demonstrated solidarity and the spirit of mutual help. He called on the SCO countries to boost exchange and cooperation in governance and contribute to safeguarding regional security and prosperity.

“Over the past two decades, the SCO has strengthened people-to-people bonds in the region through continuous cultural exchange, which serves as the foundation for good-neighborliness and friendly cooperation,” said Du Zhanyuan, head of China International Publishing Group.

Du called for wider cultural exchange under the SCO framework in the realms of media, education, tourism, think tanks, academic research, and youth exchange.

The two-day forum, jointly held by China National Academy of Governance and the SCO Secretariat, was attended by about 200 representatives from SCO member states, observer nations, and dialogue partners as well as international organizations.