The 22nd SCO summit promotes regional cooperation and multilateralism 

Published:September 19,2022

By Gerald Mbanda

The 22nd Summit of the Council of Heads of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization took place on September 15 and 16 in the city of Samarkand-Uzbekistan. On its 21 anniversary, the summit took place at the right time, when regional countries need to strengthen their cooperation to counter foreign threats on peace, security, and stability as well as laying strategies for shared vision on global challenges and development. 

With its headquarters in Beijing, SCO membership includes; China, Russia, India, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Pakistan and Iran as members and three observer members Afghanistan, Belarus and Mongolia.

President Xi Jinping delivered a speech that gives the right direction not only for SCO members states, but also for the world’s peaceful coexistence under the five points within the Shanghai spirit, namely; mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, consultation, respect for diversity of civilizations and pursuit of common development.  

President Xi’s call for security cooperation among member countries, is indeed necessary given the current atmosphere of a cold war mentality promoted by the US and its allies.   China’s call for a Global Security Initiative is intended to address the peace deficit and global security challenges that prevail.

President Xi’s call for multilateralism as opposed to unilateralism is a clear testimony of advocating for a global order based consultation and consensus throughwhich global challenges and ideological differences can be addressed, rather than use of force and bullying by strong nations. 

President Xi noted that the SCO has been an important constructive force in international and regional affairs and further called on SCO members to uphold the Shanghai Spirit, strengthen unity and cooperation, and promote the building of an even closer SCO community with a shared future.

Xi called for the SCO members to strengthen practical cooperation, noting that China is ready to work with all other stakeholders to pursue the Global Development Initiative proposed by China and jointly promote the Belt and Road Initiative.

President Xi pledged that China will provide developing countries in need with emergency humanitarian assistance of grain and other supplies worth 1.5 billion yuan, in response to the issue of global food security. He further argued SCO member states to implement cooperation in areas of trade and investment, infrastructure, supply chains, scientific and technological innovation, and artificial intelligence.

The expansion of SCO membership adds strength to the organization which works for the common good of the citizens of its member states as well as advocating for shared global order and prosperity, while at the same time putting on  check western hegemony. 

Gerald Mbanda is a Researcher and publisher on China and Africa.  

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