A central question at the opening of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Foreign Ministers’ meeting today in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, was whether the Afghanistan disaster could become a major success for the SCO’s approach. In particular, whether the prospect of massive infrastructural development of Afghanistan would be enough to begin healing wounds and outflanking medievalist terrorism. The Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi announced his approach July 13, stressing the uniqueness of the SCO, upon its 20th anniversary. The core concept of the SCO is the “Shanghai Spirit … mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, consultation, respect for diversity of civilizations, and pursuit of common development.”
Wang Yi elaborated upon this at today’s opening session of the Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs. CGTN reported on Wang Yi’s address: “Noting that the SCO has created a new model of cooperation featuring solidarity and collaboration among countries with different social systems and development paths, Wang made several proposals for the further development of the organization. … [T]to set an example for the international community in exploring a new type of international relations, the member states should firmly support each other on issues concerning each other’s core interests and major concerns, adding that they should cooperate closely in the face of external interference and challenges.” He called upon the SCO to jointly counter the “three evil forces” of terrorism, extremism and separatism – specifically including “the East Turkistan Islamic Movement.” Further, joint work on the Belt and Road should involve strengthened cooperation in science, technology and innovation. “[A]ll progressive forces around the world should resist certain countries putting unilateralism and bullying practices above the basic norms of international relations.”
