Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for an upgrade and strengthening of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). Xi made his remarks during a China-Russia summit held in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, on August 31, where the SCO summit was taking place, according to a report by China's state-run Xinhua News Agency on September 1.
During the summit, Xi stated, "The SCO has an important mission to maintain regional stability and promote regional development," adding that "China wishes to discuss the development agenda of the SCO with all parties, including Russia." He further expressed his desire for the SCO to lead global governance reform and promote a multipolar world that is equitable and orderly.
President Putin remarked that the SCO has become a significant regional cooperation platform with international influence, emphasizing that Russia and China should play leading roles within the organization.
Xi's concept of the 'SCO development agenda' extends beyond economic cooperation. By mentioning both global governance reform and world multipolarity, it is understood that the agenda also encompasses strengthening regional security cooperation. Xi has articulated a vision for the SCO that includes enhancing security cooperation, boosting regional economic collaboration, increasing political coordination among member states, strengthening solidarity on the international stage, and emerging as a pillar of a multipolar international order. It is anticipated that Xi will seek support from member states to reinforce the SCO's role.
However, analysts suggest that Xi's vision for the SCO does not imply a collective defense system akin to NATO. The SCO explicitly stated in its 2021 summit declaration that it would not establish a political-military alliance. Notably, the organization includes member states such as China and India, which have border disputes, as well as India and Pakistan, which have a history of conflict. Therefore, a NATO-style collective defense system is deemed impractical.
Consequently, it is analyzed that China seeks a non-aligned security community rather than a military alliance. The security of member states is interconnected, suggesting a collaborative approach to addressing security issues as they arise. China is expected to pursue a non-Western multilateral platform that combines a non-aligned security community, an economic cooperation framework, and a global governance dialogue.
The SCO began as a dialogue mechanism for peaceful border management between China and Central Asian countries following the collapse of the Soviet Union. Since 1996, China has signed agreements to build military trust with neighboring countries, including Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan, and in 2001, the six nations officially launched the SCO, which later welcomed India and Pakistan as formal members in 2017. As of now, the SCO has ten member countries, with Iran set to join in 2023 and Belarus in 2024.
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.