ASTANA, Kazakhstan: Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered a resolute message at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Astana, Kazakhstan, urging member states to resist external interference and assert control over their own destinies.
Emphasizing solidarity among SCO nations, which collectively represent around half of the world’s population, Xi stressed the importance of mutual support and safeguarding regional peace and development.
Addressing the geopolitical landscape, Xi described the current global juncture as critical, urging the SCO to align itself with fairness, justice, and historical progress.
His remarks underscored the SCO’s pivotal role in shaping a multipolar world order, a sentiment echoed by Russian President Vladimir Putin, who highlighted the alliance’s strengthening influence.
The SCO, which includes permanent members Kazakhstan, India, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Belarus, admitted last year, aims to bolster economic cooperation and infrastructural development across its vast expanse from Moscow to Beijing.
Xi’s discussions emphasized the alliance’s commitment to promoting economic inclusivity, technological innovation, and resilience in industrial and supply chains.
Xi’s stance on safeguarding developmental rights and fostering regional economic autonomy reflects China’s strategic interests in the face of heightened global competition, particularly amid Russia’s ongoing conflict with Ukraine and Western efforts to expand influence in Central Asia.
As Beijing continues to advance initiatives like the Belt and Road project, which enhances connectivity between China and Europe via Central Asia, Xi’s directives underscore China’s ambitions to consolidate its influence in the region while advocating for SCO unity and sovereignty.
