China’s President Xi Jinping has called on the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member nations to unite against external interference and support each other firmly. Speaking at the 24th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the SCO in Astana, Xi stressed the importance of safeguarding the right to development in the face of increasing global challenges. He highlighted the need for the bloc to work together, stating, “In the face of the real risks of small yards with high fences, we must safeguard the right to development.”

Promoting Peace and Innovation

Xi urged the 10-member bloc to handle internal differences peacefully, seek common ground, and resolve cooperation difficulties. Emphasising the need for scientific and technological innovation, he called for efforts to maintain the stability and smoothness of industrial and supply chains. Xi’s speech underscored the importance of collaboration and innovation in achieving the bloc’s development goals.

Expansion of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization

The SCO, established in Shanghai in 2001, has grown from a regional organisation with six members to a trans-regional bloc with ten full members. Belarus officially joined the organisation during the meeting on Thursday. Other notable members include India, Iran, Kazakhstan, and Russia. The expansion reflects the increasing influence and strategic importance of the SCO in regional and global affairs.

With Inputs from Reuters