【Minging dysfunction】

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization, which upholds the "Shanghai Spirit", follows the trend of the times and conforms to the direction of human progress, and is continuing to grow and grow under the complex international situation. The 2025 SCO Summit will be held in Tianjin from August 31 to September 1. By then, more than 20 national leaders and 10 heads of international organizations will gather at the shore of the sea and river to take the pulse of regional and world development and discuss future development plans.

The world pattern is changing rapidly today, and unstable and uncertain factors have increased significantly. Some forces and countries incite "new Cold War" in international relations, create camp confrontation, and engage in protectionism and unilateral sanctions in international trade... Behind all this is the game between the two world orders and the principles of international relations, and the game of development rights.

The SCO, established 24 years ago, developed from the "Shanghai Five" mechanism and was born to adapt to the actual situation in Eurasia and the general trend of world development. Under very complex historical conditions, member states have solved difficult issues in regional international relations based on equal consultation with mutual respect and understanding. The establishment of the SCO shows that countries are willing to expand cooperation and create a favorable external environment for development. The "Shanghai Spirit" of mutual benefit, mutual trust, equality, consultation, respect for diverse civilizations and seeking common development also emerged and became the principle guide for the development of the organization. This is the development and concrete embodiment of the United Nations Charter and the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, and is an innovative move in the history of the development of international relations. In September 2022, President Xi Jinping pointed out at the 22nd meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the SCO Member States that the "Shanghai Spirit" is the vitality of the development and growth of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and it is also the fundamental guideline that the Shanghai Cooperation Organization must adhere to for a long time.

Since the establishment of the SCO, member states have upheld the "Shanghai Spirit", respected each other's respective development paths and core interests, carried out pragmatic cooperation in the fields of security guarantee, economic development and cultural exchanges, and made great contributions to the development and regional stability of all countries, especially Central Asian countries, and their attractiveness has been continuously enhanced. In 2017, the SCO expanded its membership for the first time and continued to grow in its subsequent development. At present, the SCO has 10 member states, 2 observer states and 14 dialogue partners. The total area of ​​member states exceeds 37 million square kilometers, accounting for about 25% of the global land area, covering nearly half of the world's population, and accounting for about one-quarter of the world's total economic output. In March this year, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan successfully resolved the border issues that plagued both sides for many years. A qualitative breakthrough in bilateral relations is the result of the traditional role of the "Shanghai Spirit" and the "Five Kingdoms of Shanghai".

Security, economy and humanities are the three pillar cooperation areas of the SCO. The SCO has achieved a series of world-renowned achievements in these fields reflect the development potential of new types of international relations.

In the field of security, the SCO has played an irreplaceable role in Central Asia. After independence, Central Asian countries are generally troubled by the "three forces", especially the Afghan issue has always had the risk of spillover. The SCO has made unremitting efforts to ensure regional security, not only established regional counter-terrorism agencies, but also always tracked the regional security situation and responded in a timely manner. Nearly half of the documents adopted by the SCO involve security cooperation. The Treaty on Long-term Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation of Member States of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, adopted in 2007, clearly states that member countries actively cooperate in combating terrorism, separatism and extremism, illegal trafficking of narcotic drugs, psychotropic drugs and their precursors, illegal trafficking of weapons, illegal immigration, and other transnational criminal activities. The cooperation between member states in the security field includes counter-terrorism exercises, information exchange, policy coordination, personnel training... The process of implementing the consensus on security cooperation is the process of practicing a common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security concept.

In the economic field, since the establishment of the SCO, the trade volume between member states has continued to rise. The proposal and implementation of the "Belt and Road" initiative will promote the continuous improvement of the quantity and quality of pragmatic cooperation projects among member states. The SCO has established a cooperation mechanism for ministerial-level meetings in multiple pragmatic fields, and China has actively established cooperation platforms such as local economic and trade cooperation demonstration zones, agricultural technology exchange and training demonstration bases. In 2023, President Xi Jinping proposed at the 23rd meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the SCO Member States that we must strengthen the docking of high-quality joint construction of the "Belt and Road" with the development strategies and regional cooperation initiatives of various countries, deepen the liberalization and facilitation of trade and investment, accelerate the construction of port infrastructure and regional international logistics channels, and ensure the stability and smooth operation of regional industrial chains and supply chains. The implementation of these initiatives and recommendations further promote practical cooperation among SCO member states.

In the field of humanities, the SCO respects diverse civilizations and continuously promotes people's mutual understanding. Member countries have rich and colorful cooperation in the fields of education, science and technology, culture, health, sports, etc. Educational cooperation projects such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization University provide more learning opportunities for young people in member countries. In July 2023, China announced that it would provide 1,000 international Chinese teacher scholarship quotas and 3,000 "Chinese Bridge" summer camp quotas to the SCO countries within three years, and invite 100 young scientists to China to participate in scientific research exchanges. The "Health Express" activity organized by the Shanghai Cooperation Organization of China's Good Neighborliness and Friendship Committee has successfully performed nearly a thousand surgeries for cataract patients in member countries. Cultural exchanges are deepening the friendship and mutual understanding between peoples of all countries in a richer form.

This year marks the "China Year" and the Year of Sustainable Development of the SCO. The Tianjin Summit of the SCO will further promote the "Shanghai Spirit", promote the development of the SCO, and strengthen the SCO's influence in regional and international affairs. At the same time, the in-depth advancement of the Chinese-style modernization process will continue to bring new development opportunities to SCO countries.

(Author: Li Yongquan, a researcher at the Institute of Russian Eastern Europe and Central Asia, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences)

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