UN General Assembly adopts resolution to boost cooperation with SCO

The 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly adopted on Friday a resolution on cooperation between the United Nations and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

The resolution was introduced by China and co-sponsored by nearly 40 countries, including all SCO member states. It commends the role of the SCO in promoting regional peace, development, mutual trust, and cooperation, and supports closer dialogue between the UN system and the SCO.

The resolution also welcomes China, as the rotating chair of the SCO, for hosting the Tianjin Summit from Aug 31 to Sept 1, 2025, and issuing the Tianjin Declaration. It notes that SCO members plan to hold a series of events marking the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations and the victory in World War II.

Geng Shuang, charge d'affaires of the Permanent Mission of China to the United Nations, presented the draft resolution.

He said that since its founding 24 years ago, the SCO has grown under the Shanghai Spirit into the world's largest regional organization.

The most significant highlight of the Tianjin Summit, said Geng, was President Xi Jinping's proposal of the Global Governance Initiative at the SCO Plus meeting.

He said the initiative called on all countries to adhere to sovereign equality, abide by international rule of law, practice multilateralism, advocate the people-centered approach, and focus on taking real actions, so as to join hands in building a more just and equitable global governance system and a community with a shared future for humanity.

Representatives of Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Belarus, Pakistan, Iran, Cambodia, Cuba, Venezuela, and Serbia voiced support for the SCO's work and China's role during its rotating chairmanship.

"This draft resolution manifests a timely affirmation of the importance of cooperation, multilateralism, and regional peace," said Cambodia's UN ambassador Chhea Keo.

"As a small and peace-loving nation firmly committed to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, Cambodia recognizes the SCO's growing role in fostering dialogue, mutual respect, peaceful settlement of disputes, and development," Keo said, adding that Cambodia welcomes and supports the Global Governance Initiative launched by China.

"We believe that this new initiative will reinforce the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and the Global Civilization Initiative previously launched by China, all aimed at building a peaceful, stable, harmonious, and prosperous world," he said.

Since 2009, the General Assembly has regularly adopted resolutions on UN-SCO cooperation by consensus.

At Friday's plenary, the United States requested a vote on the draft resolution. Following the vote, Geng rejected US criticism of the SCO.

"We urge the US to stop politicizing the cooperation between the UN and regional organizations, stop making groundless accusations against other countries and relevant multilateral organizations, and stop undermining the atmosphere of unity and cooperation within the UN," said Geng.

"The US should instead take concrete actions to fulfill its international responsibilities, act as a responsible major country, and play a constructive role befitting its standing," he said.