Broad vision of cohesion

SCO members will further enhance cooperation to address challenges brought about by changes in external environment

The upcoming Beijing Summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization will further enhance the cohesion and influence of the regional cooperation mechanism.

The leaders of the member states will build on the past and plan for the future and they will further map out the SCO's development for its second decade.

According to the Charter of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization the main areas of cooperation within the SCO are: maintaining peace and enhancing security and confidence in the region; finding common positions on foreign policy issues of mutual interest; the development and implementation of measures aimed at jointly counteracting terrorism, separatism and extremism, illicit narcotics and arms trafficking and other types of criminal activity of a transnational character; coordination of efforts in the field of disarmament and arms control; support for, and promotion of regional economic cooperation and the fostering of a favorable environment for trade and investments with a view to achieving a free flow of goods, capital, services and technologies; effective use of available transportation and communication infrastructure, improvement of transport capabilities of member states and development of energy systems; sound environmental management, including water resources management in the region, and implementation of particular joint environmental programs and projects; mutual assistance in preventing natural and man-made disasters; and promoting interaction in fields such as science and technology, education, and healthcare.

Since its establishment on June 15, 2001, the SCO has become a reliable mechanism for the overall progress of cooperation among its members and it has achieved a number of significant achievements:

First, a variety of mature concepts and principles for cooperation have taken shape, including the "Shanghai Spirit" - which emphasizes mutual trust, mutual benefits, equality, consultation, respect for diversified civilizations and pursuit of common development - as well as a new relationship among SCO members, in which, big or small, they are all equals and decisions are made through consultation; and a new security cooperation model of non-alignment, non-confrontation and non-targeting of any other countries or regions.

Second, the SCO has established a multitiered and multidisciplinary meeting mechanism, including the Council of Heads of State, the Council of Heads of Government, the Council of Foreign Ministers and the Council of National Coordinators, which coordinates the multilateral cooperation of member states within the framework of the SCO's charter. There are two permanent bodies, including the Secretariat of the SCO, located in Beijing and the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure, headquartered in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

Third, the institutional infrastructure and legal basis of multilateral cooperation continues to be strengthened. The SCO has passed dozens of multilateral treaties and documents; including the Declaration on the Establishment of the SCO; the Shanghai Convention on Combating Terrorism, Separatism and Extremism; the Program of Multilateral Trade and Economic Cooperation; the Treaty on Long-Term Good- Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation Between the Member States of the SCO; the SCO Counter-Terrorism Convention and so on.

Fourth, pragmatic cooperation in all fields is constantly carried forward. Security cooperation includes building mutual trust in border areas, joint military exercises and anti-drug cooperation, exchanges of information and joint law enforcement. In the economic field, multilateral programs are implemented to promote economic growth, and the industrialists committee and inter-bank union implement multilateral programs to promote economic and social development while intensifying cooperative financing efforts. The establishment of the SCO Forum has helped to enhance communication between experts, and media and youth exchanges are encouraged.

Fifth, external exchanges are expanding steadily. Guided by related regulations of the organization, the SCO now has four observers and two dialogue partners. The SCO has become an observer of the United Nations General Assembly, and signed documents on cooperation with the European Union, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the Commonwealth of the Independent States, the Collective Security Treaty Organization, and the Eurasian Economic Community, and established a liaison group with Afghanistan. More and more countries and international organizations have shown an interest in dialogue with the SCO and a growing number of countries have expressed their desire to participate in the SCO.

The SCO's smooth development is mainly due to the geographic proximity of its members, their traditional friendship, good bilateral relations and huge development potential.

The enhancement of member states' economic strength provides favorable conditions for the SCO's second decade and the continuous upgrading of bilateral relations will further consolidate the foundation for comprehensive cooperation among its members.

The financial crisis and chaos in Afghanistan have reinforced the belief among member states that only through close cooperation can they effectively overcome the risks and challenges brought about by changes in the external economic and security environment.

All in all, the summit in Beijing will continue to advance the SCO's role in promoting regional development and stability.

The author is secretary-general of the SCO Research Center of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

(China Daily 06/05/2012 page8)