Xi sees SCO bearing ‘greater responsibilities’ for regional peace

TIANJIN: The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) bears “greater responsibility” for safeguarding regional peace and stability, as well as promoting the development and prosperity of its member states, Chinese President Xi Jinping told about 20 world leaders he hosted on Sunday evening.

Chinese state news agency Xinhua reported XI quoted as saying that the ongoing SCO summit shoulders the important mission of building consensus among all parties and stimulating momentum in cooperation.

Xi expressed confidence that with concerted efforts of all parties, the summit would be a complete success.

The SCO is certain to play an even bigger role and achieve more progress, making greater contribution to boosting the unity and cooperation among member states, pooling the strength of the Global South and pushing for more progress of human civilisation, he added.

CHINA-ARMEMIA STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP

Meanwhile, China and Armenia established a strategic partnership as their leaders met in northern Chinese port city of Tianjin on Sunday, state media CCTV reported.

China and Armenia should firmly support each other and deepen cooperation in all fields, Chinese President Xi Jinping told Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, CCTV said.

Pashinyan is in Tianjin for the SCO summit.

CHINA KEY TO MULTILATERALISM

On the sidelines of the SCO summit, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres earlier in the day told Xi that China’s role in upholding multilateralism is fundamental.

Read more: SCO summit: Guterres says China’s support for multilateralism vital

Xi in turn said China would always be a “reliable partner” to the UN and continue to provide “stability and certainty”.

Also on Sunday, XI told his Turkish counterpart Tayyip Erdogan that China and Turkiye should strengthen cooperation in the area of counterterrorism, according to the Xinhua state news agency.

Both countries should also seek new cooperation opportunities in new energy, 5G technology and biomedicine, Xinhua quoted Xi as saying, in a meeting on the sidelines of SCO summit.