As an important constructive force in regional and international affairs, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) should firmly carry forward the "Shanghai Spirit" amid the intertwined international situation, and strive to build a closer SCO community with a shared future, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang said on Friday.

Qin made the remarks while attending the SCO Foreign Ministers' Meeting in India's Goa.

When delivering a speech at the SCO foreign ministers' meeting, Qin said the world now is facing multiple crisis and challenges, with the resurgence of the Cold War and unilateral protectionism and the rise of hegemony and power politics. 

The Chinese foreign minister put forward a five-point proposal to build a closer SCO community with a shared future.

First, strategic autonomy should be upheld, and solidarity and mutual trust should be strengthened. Qin called for firmly supporting each other on safeguarding national sovereignty, security and development interests. 

Second, cooperation in security should be deepened to protect regional peace. Qin highlighted the need to continue to combat the three forces of terrorism, separatism and extremism, narcotics trafficking and transnational organized crime. 

Third, Qin called for openness and inclusiveness to promote interconnected development. 

Any action that undermines the international economic and trade order and market rules should be rejected, he said, calling for the stability and smooth flow of the industrial and supply chains.

Taking the hosting of the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation as an opportunity, China will work with all related parties to push for the path of opportunity and prosperity to be wider in the new decade, he said.

Fourth, justice and fairness should be abided by to improve global governance.

Qin said China will enhance coordination and cooperation with all parties to jointly support the SCO in participating in and implementing the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, as well as in major initiatives like the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative.

Fifth, the Chinese foreign minister urged efforts to focus on long-term development and strengthen mechanism construction.

He called for orderly completion of the process of Iran and Belarus joining the SCO to promote better cohesion, execution and influence of the SCO.

China is willing to keep expanding cooperation with the SCO member states, aimed at forging ahead hand in hand in national development and rejuvenation, and working together in building a community with a shared future for mankind, said Qin.

All parties at the meeting hailed the contribution the SCO has made in promoting regional security and development, and agreed to further strengthen cooperation in security. 

They pledged to advance cooperation in areas such as transportation, energy, finance, investment, free trade and digital economy to promote regional connectivity, deepen cultural and people-to-people exchanges and achieve common development. 

All parties offered support for Afghanistan to achieve national stability and reconstruction, and backed the SCO to enhance cooperation with the United Nations (UN) and the BRICS countries to safeguard the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and multilateralism. 

The meeting made comprehensive preparations for the SCO Summit in New Delhi to be held this summer.