Translated with AI
Representatives of political parties of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) countries expressed their readiness to jointly respond to challenges that go beyond national borders, such as climate change, poverty and extremism, achieve universal security and promote global economic and social stability, People's Daily reported, citing Xinhua.
The SCO Political Parties Forum, which took place from Wednesday to Thursday in Urumqi, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, sent a clear message: political parties, as the foundation of democracy and the voice of the people, must lead efforts to respond to pressing challenges.
The event was held in response to an initiative proposed at last year's SCO summit in Astana, and its successful organization became an important milestone ahead of the upcoming autumn SCO summit in Tianjin, which will be held under the chairmanship of China, SCO Secretary-General Nurlan Yermekbayev said.
During the two-day forum, more than 200 representatives of over 60 political parties from SCO member states, observer countries and dialogue partners discussed the role of political parties in strengthening economic and cultural interconnectedness within the SCO.
The modern world is facing new geopolitical, economic and environmental challenges, and the SCO provides a valuable platform for jointly finding solutions, Zamirbek Askarov, First Vice-Chairman of the Alliance Party of Kyrgyzstan, said during the forum.
Against this backdrop, the SCO has introduced a new model of cooperation characterized by solidarity, mutual benefit, inclusiveness and mutual learning among countries with different social systems and development paths.
The organization's efforts have already produced positive results.
China has financed large-scale infrastructure projects, including the modernization of roads and railways. Among the most significant is the construction of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway, which will improve transport connectivity in the region and stimulate regional trade.
In 2024, trade turnover between China and the SCO member states, observers and dialogue partners reached a new historical high of USD 890 billion in value terms, accounting for 14.4 percent of China's total foreign trade for that year.
The key factor in the organization's success was its principles, enshrined in the "Shanghai Spirit": mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, respect for the diversity of civilizations, and the desire for joint development.
Liu Jianchao, director of the International Relations Department of the CPC Central Committee, noted that the 24 years of active development of the SCO have also become a favorable period for the steady deepening of exchanges and cooperation between the major political parties and political organizations of the SCO family.
Liu Jianchao proposed holding a regular forum of SCO political parties to expand channels of communication and contacts.
At the forum, Secretary of the CPC Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Committee Ma Xingrui said that Xinjiang is actively creating a "golden corridor" on the Eurasian continent and is striving to become a springboard for China's opening up to the West.
(Editor: Chu Mengqi, Deng Jie)
