Guest Commentary by Han Lu
On June 9, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) saw its 17th meeting of the Council of Heads of State in Astana, Kazakhstan.
This year marks the 15th anniversary of the SCO Charter and the 10th anniversary of the Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation. Following these two key documents, the member states have upheld the principles of mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality and respect for diversity, with the aim to make the SCO into a multilateral organization with wider global influence and an active contributor to regional stability and development.
Against such a backdrop, the Astana summit marks the start of a promising new era for the SCO. During the meeting, the heads of member states explored joint responses to emerging risks and challenges and ways to promote joint security, stability and development in the region. The consensus reached regarding anti-terrorism, economic and humanities cooperation, as well as its enlargement, sketches in further details for the SCO blueprint.
Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Indian PM Narendra Modi in Astana, Friday. /Xinhua Photo.
Inclusion of new members to bring fresh opportunities
Enlargement had been the most eye-catching item on the agenda of the Astana summit, which passed the resolution to take in India and Pakistan, the first expansion since the organization’s founding 16 years ago.
The two new members mean a substantial increase in the SCO’s potential in terms of geography, population and economic resources. Most of all, the SCO expects to see more active multilateral economic cooperation that will benefit the people of all member states.
Arenas for cooperation to broaden
With the global and regional situations plagued by the "three evil forces" of terrorism, separatism, and extremism and the world economy lacking growth impetus, the members are setting greater store by the SCO’s role in promoting security and economic development. While reviewing the implementation of its medium-term goals, the members determined on the directions of its roadmap for the next stage.
Among the documents signed at the summit were the anti-extremism convention and the outline for cooperation in tourism. Strengthened cooperation in regional security promises more coordinated efforts in combating extremism and countering the spread of West Asian unrest into Central Asia. On the other hand, economic multilateralism got a new fillip as members pledged to work more closely on tourism, health, technology and environment protection.
'Belt and Road' to make further headway
Another highlight at the Astana summit was the vigorous interaction between the SCO and China’s Belt and Road Initiative. As the geographic scope of the SCO encompasses the core area of the Belt and Road, its member states have been eager to work through the SCO to seek ways to hitch their national development to the B&R wagon.
With a more mature framework for collaboration in politics, economy and security mechanism, the SCO is looking to play a bigger role in all-around exchanges and to contribute more to regional stability and prosperity.
Following the Astana summit, China takes over the SCO rotating presidency and will host the next summit in 2018. With new members and greater responsibilities, the SCO faces fresh opportunities and challenges. During its presidency, there is good reason to believe China will adhere to the “Shanghai Spirit” and join forces with other member states in resolving the risks and deepening the effective cooperation in various fields.
(Han Lu is an associate research fellow at the China Institute of International Studies and specializes in Eurasian regional issues. The article reflects the author's opinion, not necessarily the view of CGTN.)
