Chinese defense minister urges more 'SCO strength' for peace

Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun attended the defense ministers' meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states in the Kyrgyz capital of Bishkek on Tuesday and delivered a speech.

Dong noted that the China-proposed Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative, Global Civilization Initiative and Global Governance Initiative have brought invaluable stability and certainty to a turbulent world.

The SCO, as a model of multilateralism, should firmly uphold the international order, jointly defend fairness and justice, jointly promote security governance, eliminate the sources of turmoil and conflict through shared development, and contribute the "SCO strength" to sustainable peace, development and prosperity, Dong said.

He urged the member states to deepen defense and security cooperation, and advance the SCO's high-quality development featuring greater unity, more interaction, greater vitality and more achievements.

At the meeting, defense ministers of the SCO member states expressed their readiness to strengthen strategic communication and practical cooperation for regional peace and security.

Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov met with the defense officials prior to the meeting.

(Cover: Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun attends a meeting of defense ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization member states in Qingdao, China, June 26, 2025. /VCG)