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Dewey Sim

The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation should take on a bigger global role in technology and security, Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Tuesday, describing the Eurasian bloc as having vast potential.
At the SCO’s summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Xi said the group had shown “strong vitality” since its founding 25 years ago amid the “sobering lessons of the Cold War”.
In a veiled reference to Washington’s system of military alliances, Xi said a key lesson from the bloc’s quarter of a century of cooperation was “finding the right way to coexist without alliance, confrontation or targeting any third party”.
“Its most significant achievement has been its steady growth into a new type of regional cooperation organisation that now spans the widest territory, encompasses the largest population, and holds the greatest development potential in the world,” Xi said, according to state news agency Xinhua.
However, he said, the shadow of the war lingered and the world was at a crossroads, with rivalries between dialogue and confrontation, win-win cooperation and zero-sum competition, and multilateralism versus unilateralism.
“Standing at a crossroads concerning the future and destiny of humankind, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation should bravely shoulder its responsibility and proactively guide the course of history,” Xi said.




In outlining his suggestions for the bloc, the Chinese leader said countries had to “prioritise security and create a universally secure environment”, and firmly prevent external forces from interfering in the internal affairs of other countries to safeguard regional stability.
Xi also called on the group to deepen cooperation in areas ranging from trade and connectivity to artificial intelligence and the digital economy, pledging to set up a “China-SCO Port Economic Cooperation Centre” in Tianjin.
In addition, China would implement 100 scientific and technological projects with member nations over the next three years.
On the international front, Xi said Beijing was ready to strengthen communication and cooperation with “relevant parties” as well as push for “political solutions” to conflicts, including the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East.
As the international order frays, the grouping is viewed as a platform for Beijing to advance its ambitions for a multipolar world and cement its position as a leader of the Global South.
At a separate meeting with SCO member countries and dialogue partners, also on Tuesday, Xi again pointed to growing “hegemonism” and protectionism, saying the vast majority of countries did not want confrontation but sought an equal place on the world stage.
“We must uphold the principle that all countries, regardless of size, strength or wealth, should enjoy equal rights, equal opportunities and equal rules,” he said, calling for more representation of developing countries in international affairs.
Xi added that a more united and dynamic SCO could advance multipolarity.
“Major powers, in particular, should take the lead in abiding by the rules and the rule of the law, and cooperate to address global challenges.”
Among the other leaders at the summit are Russian President Vladimir Putin, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.
It is the first time the leaders of China, Iran and Russia have appeared together since the United States and Israel launched joint strikes on Tehran in February.
On Monday, Xi met Putin for their second face-to-face meeting this year, pledging to strengthen the role of the SCO and improve cooperation within the organisation.
At the summit on Tuesday, Putin described the SCO as becoming an influential centre of the multipolar world and called for state-sponsored provocation to be eliminated.
Iran’s Pezeshkian said sustainable security could not be achieved through confrontation but through respect for countries’ sovereignty, calling the attacks on Tehran a blatant violation of international law, Iranian media reported.

Also on Tuesday, the Iranian and Russian foreign ministers took part in a group meeting with their counterparts from other member nations, according to Iranian media.
These interactions came just two days after the American military resumed attacks on Iran, breaking a weeks-long lull in fighting.
Beijing and Moscow are “comprehensive strategic partners” of Tehran and their responses have been subject to international scrutiny.
Last week, US President Donald Trump’s administration declared an “Economic D-Day”, threatening sanctions against countries that continue to do business with Iran.
The SCO was formally established in 2001 with six countries – China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan – to combat terrorism in Central Asia.
It has expanded to 10 full members and increasingly draws global attention as a non-Western multilateral security coordination platform. It is viewed by some as a vehicle for Beijing and Moscow to pool influence and compete with Washington in international politics.


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The world is at a crossroads and the group should shoulder its responsibility, Chinese president says at Bishkek summit


The world is at a crossroads and the group should shoulder its responsibility, Chinese president says at Bishkek summit.


Xi Jinping calls on SCO members to team up for bigger global tech-security role

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}The world is at a crossroads and the group should shoulder its responsibility, Chinese president says at Bishkek summit

The world is at a crossroads and the group should shoulder its responsibility, Chinese president says at Bishkek summit