Minister calls for more SCO security cooperation

China's defense minister on Wednesday called for global solidarity amid multiple crises and challenges rarely seen in history, encouraging member countries of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization to deepen security cooperation.

The more difficult the situation is, the more united the global community should be in order to overcome difficulties, General Wei Fenghe, China's State Councilor and defense minister, said in a video speech at the 19th meeting of defense ministers of the SCO member states-China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Pakistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

He said the Global Security Initiative proposed by President Xi Jinping has offered a correct solution to cope with international security challenges, stressing that China is ready to work with other countries to uphold global equity, justice and world peace.

The minister, also a member of the Central Military Commission, expressed firm opposition and sternly condemned US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's recent visit to the island of Taiwan, underlining that the Taiwan question is China's internal affair and China has taken resolute countermeasures in response.

He expressed appreciation to those who understand and support China's stance on the question, including more than 170 countries and international organizations.

Wei said that through continuous exploration and development, the SCO has become a model of harmonious coexistence and win-win cooperation among countries with different civilizations and systems, and has set a successful example of a new type of regional organization.

He called on the defense departments and militaries of SCO member states to establish the concept of a security community and to deepen defense and security cooperation, in order to jointly build a solid barrier for common and universal security.

The meeting was held in Tashkent, capital of Uzbekistan, on Wednesday. Since 2001 when the regional security organization was established, the SCO has set up a series of meeting mechanisms in various sectors to enhance security cooperation, such as the meeting of defense ministers, chiefs of staff, public security ministers and justice ministers.