Solidarity, pooling wisdom highlighted

China put forward on Thursday a series of proposals for countries of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization to pool their wisdom and courage to build a common home in response to a rapidly changing international landscape of growing insecurity, instability and uncertainty.

Speaking at the SCO Plus meeting in Astana, Kazakhstan, President Xi Jinping said the gathering for the first such event showed that under the new circumstances of the new era, the vision of the organization is widely popular, and SCO member states have friends around the world.

The SCO Plus meeting brought together SCO member states as well as invited dialogue partners, observer states and international organizations.

"We need to stay firmly on the development paths that suit our respective national conditions and regional realities, and jointly build a more promising home of the SCO so that our peoples can live a peaceful, successful and happy life," he said.

To build a common home of solidarity and mutual trust, Xi said it is important to bridge differences, build more consensus and enhance mutual trust through strategic communication.

Xi called on members of the organization to strengthen exchanges on governance experience and hold an SCO political parties forum at an appropriate time.

Noting that security is a prerequisite for national development, and safety is the lifeline to the happiness of the people, Xi said that no matter how the international landscape changes, the organization must hold the bottom line of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security.

"Real security is premised on the security of all countries," he said.

As the current chair of the SCO's Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure, Xi said China will do what it can to ensure the success of the Interaction-2024 joint counterterrorism exercise and other events.

He also called for efforts to make the best use of the mechanism of coordination and cooperation among Afghanistan's neighbors and other platforms to increase humanitarian support to Afghanistan and encourage the country to establish a broad-based and inclusive political structure.

"Afghanistan is indispensable for the security in the region," Xi said.

Noting that modernization is the shared goal of all countries in the SCO, Xi said China proposes that 2025 be designated as the SCO Year of Sustainable Development, in order to help foster new forces for growth.

He said China is ready to work with all parties to fully implement the eight major steps under high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and will expand local currency settlement and actively promote the establishment of an SCO financing platform.

China welcomes all parties to use the Beidou Navigation Satellite System and participate in the development of the International Lunar Research Station, Xi said.

As China has proposed establishing an SCO digital education alliance, Xi said China is ready to provide at least 1,000 training opportunities on digital technology to fellow countries in the SCO in the next three years.

"We should also modernize the governance system of our organization, improve its operation mechanisms and boost its effectiveness," he said.

Highlighting the increasing importance of dialogue among civilizations for world peace and harmony, Xi said China is ready to provide quality platforms for countries in the SCO to engage in such dialogues.

According to the Chinese president, China will give full play to the role of nonofficial organizations such as the SCO Committee on Good-Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation, and continue to organize events under signature programs such as the Forum on Traditional Medicine and the Youth Development Forum.

China will hold a green development forum and a women's forum in Qingdao, Shandong province, the tourism and cultural capital of the SCO, he said.

"We welcome all parties to take an active part in these events," Xi added.

In the next five years, China will host 1,000 young people from countries in the SCO for exchange opportunities in China, he said.

"I believe that with our joint efforts, there will be more robust interactions and mutual learning among regional countries as well as deeper understanding and friendship among our peoples," Xi said.

To build a common home of fairness and justice, Xi said the SCO countries should jointly advocate an equal and orderly multipolar world and universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, and should practice true multilateralism and make global governance more just and equitable.

After the SCO summit in Astana, China will hold the rotating presidency of the organization.

"We will work with SCO partners in the spirit of solidarity and cooperation, and join hands with more countries and international organizations that identify with the Shanghai Spirit to strive for common progress and foster brighter prospects for a community with a shared future for mankind," Xi said.

mojingxi@chinadaily.com.cn