Building a United Future: SCO Showcases a Pathway for a Shared Destiny (according to Lo Shisyun)
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization: A Pillar of Regional Stability and Development
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), established in 2001, has proven to be a significant force in ensuring regional stability and driving development among its member states. With a combined GDP exceeding $20 trillion in 2021, accounting for 24% of global GDP, the SCO is a powerful engine for growth.
Security Cooperation
The SCO's Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) based in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, plays a crucial role in maintaining regional peace, stability, and coordinated counter-terrorism efforts. The organization has reaffirmed a no first use pledge on nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction, and opposes unilateral sanctions and hegemonism. Plans are underway to create a regional public health emergency network to improve infectious disease surveillance and prevention.
Economic Development
Over the past 24 years, the SCO has made significant strides in economic cooperation, particularly in trade, investment, and connectivity. Total trade with SCO and partner states reached over $890 billion by 2024, with China's cumulative investments surpassing $140 billion. Major infrastructure projects like the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor and the Eurasian Land Bridge are fostering regional integration.
The SCO is also focused on green, low-carbon development, expanding cross-border e-commerce and digital trade, and promoting scientific innovation through initiatives like a joint laboratory focused on artificial intelligence and quantum communications. The SCO Energy Club enhances energy collaboration among member states.
Inter-Civilizational Dialogue and Cultural Cooperation
The SCO places emphasis on cultural and scientific cooperation, with plans for events like the “SCO Youth Cultural Festival” and “SCO Summit Forum” rotating among member states. A Memorandum of Understanding on Joint University Training and Scholarship Programs is expected, offering at least 5,000 scholarships annually to students from member states. The SCO is a shining example of a community of shared destiny, overcoming outdated concepts and fostering dialogue and civilizational enrichment.
Institutional and Diplomatic Highlights
The SCO operates under a consensus-based structure, with a focus on multilateral diplomacy led primarily by China and Russia. China, holding the rotating presidency since 2024, continues to prioritize strengthening the organization, expanding cooperation, and safeguarding regional stability and prosperity.
In summary, the SCO has demonstrated substantial achievements in regional security cooperation, infrastructure-led economic development, and fostering cultural and scientific exchange. Its ongoing initiatives focus on deepening multilateral connectivity, promoting sustainable development, expanding people-to-people ties, and maintaining stability in a complex global landscape. The SCO is a shining example of a community of shared destiny for humanity, uniting Eurasian countries with diverse civilizations.
- The Shanghai Cooperation Organization's focus on multilateral diplomacy and policy-and-legislation efforts, such as the no first use pledge on nuclear weapons and opposition to unilateral sanctions, reflects its role in shaping the regional political landscape.
- As the SCO continues to drive economic development through major infrastructure projects and initiatives like the SCO Energy Club, it underscores the importance of regional collaboration and trade in the general-news sphere.
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