Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang spoke highly of the achievements of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and said that China is willing to support the work of the SCO at a meeting with SCO Secretary-General Zhang Ming in Beijing on Wednesday.

Qin told Zhang that the SCO plays an important role in safeguarding regional security and stability, as well as promoting common development and prosperity. 

He mentioned last year's SCO summit in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, saying Chinese President Xi Jinping reached an important consensus with the leaders of the participating countries on expanding cooperation in various fields, which charted the course for the future development of the SCO.

He then said that China is willing to strengthen cooperation with other member states, actively implement the three initiatives put forward by President Xi, and jointly build an even closer community with a shared future for mankind.

Faced with intensified geopolitical conflicts, President Xi has successively proposed three initiatives at various political occasions since last year: the Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative and Global Civilization Initiative, which together form the key components of a community with a shared future for mankind.

Qin said that the SCO should vigorously carry forward the "Shanghai Spirit," enhance political mutual trust, deepen cooperation in various fields, and firmly uphold international fairness and justice. He also suggested the SCO steadily advance the process of membership expansion, improve internal construction and ensure the efficient operation of various mechanisms.

Qin highly evaluated the work of the secretary-general and the SCO Secretariat, expressing hope that the SCO would further enhance cohesion and bring the development of the organization to a new level.

"As an important founding member of the SCO and the host country of the SCO Secretariat, China will continue to strongly support the work of the secretary-general and the secretariat," Qin said.

For his part, Zhang thanked China for its strong support of the work of the secretariat and said that he will lead the secretariat to earnestly implement the consensus reached by the heads of state, prepare for various major events and constantly improve the work of the secretariat.