Russia Is Keen to Work With China to Promote SCO, Putin Envoy Says
Xu Wei
DATE:  Jun 15 2018
/ SOURCE:  Yicai
Russia Is Keen to Work With China to Promote SCO, Putin Envoy Says Russia Is Keen to Work With China to Promote SCO, Putin Envoy Says

(Yicai Global) June 15 -- Russia is willing to step up cooperation with China to further enlarge the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, a regional economic and security grouping, according to the country's special envoy.

Bakhtiyor Khakimov, the Russian president's special representative for SCO affairs, heaped praise on China for its positive role in promoting the organization's development, state-run news agency Xinhua reported yesterday. Russia is ready to work with China on major regional and international talks and safeguard international peace and stability, he added.

Founded in 2001, the bloc now comprises eight countries -- China, Russia, India, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan -- and held a successful 18th summit meeting in Qingdao last weekend, presided over by Chinese President Xi Jinping.

By organizing about 140 activities within the SCO's framework during its presidency of the group, China has consolidated and promoted cooperation among member states, expanded the organization's regional influence, and attracted an increasing number of countries dedicated to maintaining security and prosperity, Khakimov said. Russia highly appreciates this, he added.

The SCO has built cooperation mechanisms across politics, security and economics as well as cultural and educational exchanges, Khakimov said. Its greatest achievement has been the fostering of friendship, mutual trust and mutual support, he added.

The world is divided between those countries attempting to impose their will on others through force and those that share a common vision to maintain a multipolar order, Khakimov said. The SCOs members fall into the latter camp, he said, adding that they believe in solving issues through dialog and negotiation and oppose sanctions.

In the future, SCO member states will strive to elevate economic collaboration to the same level as security cooperation, reinforce multilateral talks and teamwork, and gradually realize the free flow of goods, services and capital within the SCO, he added.

Editor: Martyn Cartwright

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Keywords:   RUSSIA,SCO