DUSHANBE, May 14, 2014, Asia-Plus – The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) today has unprecedented chances for development but we are faced with serious challenges that pose threat to the regional security and stability, Mr. Fan Jun (phonetically spelled), Counselor of China’s Embassy in Dushanbe, stated at a scientific and practical conference formally titled “The Shanghai Cooperation Organization’s Role in Providing Security: Challenges and Perspectives” that kicked off in Dushanbe today.
This two-day conference is discussing issues related to providing security and stability in the SCO responsibility area.
Speaking at the conference, Mr. Fan noted that further expansion of cooperation between the Organization member nations was taking on special importance.
“Proceeding from this, Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed to build the Silk Road economic belt,” Chinese diplomat said.
We will recall that during his visit to Kazakhstan in September last year, President Xi Jinping suggested that China and Central Asia should join hands to build a Silk Road economic belt to boost cooperation. Xi suggested that relevant countries should enhance communication and green-light regional economic integration in terms of both policy and law. On the topic of trade, Xi said all parties should explore ways to facilitate trade and investment, and make proper arrangements. The Chinese president also urged the regional members to promote local-currency settlement so as to improve their immunity to financial risks and their global competitiveness.
During his visit to Port of Duisburg (Germany) in march this year, Chinese president called on China and Germany to work together to build the Silk Road economic belt. According to Xinhua, he said China”s proposal of building the Silk Road economic belt, based on the idea of common development and prosperity, aims to better connect the Asian and European markets, will enrich the idea of the Silk Road with a new meaning, and benefit all the people along the belt. China and Germany, at the opposite ends of the belt, are two major economies that serve as the driving engines for economic growth respectively in Asia and Europe, Xi noted. The two countries, linked by the Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe international railway, should strengthen cooperation in building the Silk Road economic belt, Xi said.
Founded by the leaders of China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan on June 15, 2001, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is an intergovernmental organization. Except for Uzbekistan, the other countries had been members of the Shanghai Five; after the inclusion of Uzbekistan in 2001, the members renamed the organization.
The Organization currently has six full members — China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Mongolia, Iran, Pakistan and India are four observer states, and SCO’s dialogue partners include Belarus, Sri Lanka and Turkey.
