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SCO hails anti-terror successes
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) marked 10 years since its inception Wednesday during a summit in Astana, Kazakhstan, where the group outlined its future cooperation in anti-terrorism and trade, and its stance on international issues.
Analysts noted that although the bloc’s influence is limited, it has gained weight on the global stage in the past decade, and the Western allies, such as NATO, are mulling more cooperation with the group.
In a declaration released after the talks, China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, the six members of the group, pledged to continue fighting against the “three evil forces” of terrorism, extremism and separatism, as well as drugs and weapons trafficking, other transnational crimes and illegal immigration, the Xinhua News Agency reported.
Member states will facilitate large joint projects in transportation, telecommunication, agriculture, innovation and energy conservation, as well as trade and tourism, aiming to greatly expand their trade volume and explore new markets, the declaration said.
Chinese President Hu Jintao said the modus operandi of the SCO represents a new model of international relations in the world.
“The achievements the SCO has made fully demonstrate that the organization is an important guardian of regional peace and stability and a strong impetus for common development and prosperity across the region, and enjoys a beautiful prospect in the future,” Hu was quoted by Xinhua as saying.
Over 500 terrorist plots have been foiled since the establishment of the Tashkent-based regional anti-terror structure in 2004, the SCO’s only other permanent organ besides the secretariat, Xinhua reported.
Sun Zhuangzhi, secretary-general of the SCO research center of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times that the SCO has completed a mechanism for talks and cooperation, but that both internal and external challenges remain.
“There are notable differences among SCO members in terms of economic strength, political systems and strategic interests.
In future cooperation, they will need to maximize their mutual interests while laying down differences,” Sun said, adding that its influence is still limited, compared with some major Eurasian blocs, such as NATO.
In the declaration, leaders expressed “deep concern” over the situation in West Asia and North Africa, voicing support for countries in the region to promote democracy in line with their own conditions.
They stressed strict adherence to UN Security Council Resolutions 1970 and 1973, which authorize the imposition of a no-fly zone in Libya.
Iran joined the meeting as an observer. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad held separate talks with Hu and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.
Hu urged Iran to “speed up the process of dialogue” with world powers over its nuclear programs.
The SCO also backed Russia’s criticism over Washington’s plan to build a missile defense shield for Europe.
“The unilateral and unlimited build-up of missile defense by a single state or by a narrow group of states could damage strategic stability and international security,” Reuters quoted the declaration as saying.
Alexey Malashenko, an expert on Eurasian politics with the Carnegie Moscow Center, told the Global Times that although this year’s summit shed more light on international issues, it was still dominated by China and Russia.
“China wanted the body to fulfill its economic interests, while Russia uses it mainly as a political tool. In terms of international influence, there is a notable gap between the SCO and NATO,” Malashenko said.
He noted that although the SCO has Iran as an observer and opposes Washington’s missile shield plan, it is not anti-Western.
Some Western think tanks have been urging NATO to approach the SCO.
Richard Weitz, a senior fellow and associate director of the Center for Future Security Strategies at the Hudson Institute in Washington DC, wrote on NATO’s official website that the Alliance could designate the SCO as a “global partner” to underscore the value of joint security cooperation, energy exploitation and economic development.
Weitz noted that through establishing formal ties with China, NATO members could insist on securing greater access to SCO activities.
US Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg said in June last year, “It is important that we continue to interact with the SCO and there are different ways in which non-members can engage with them.”
Separately, regarding the SCO’s expansion, Malashenko predicted that India and Pakistan would be next to gain full memberships. Iran, which is under UN sanctions, is unlikely to be allowed to join the group.
SCO hails anti-terror successes
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) marked 10 years since its inception Wednesday during a summit in Astana, Kazakhstan, where the group outlined its future cooperation in anti-terrorism and trade, and its stance on international issues.
Analysts noted that although the bloc’s influence is limited, it has gained weight on the global stage in the past decade, and the Western allies, such as NATO, are mulling more cooperation with the group.
In a declaration released after the talks, China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, the six members of the group, pledged to continue fighting against the “three evil forces” of terrorism, extremism and separatism, as well as drugs and weapons trafficking, other transnational crimes and illegal immigration, the Xinhua News Agency reported.
Member states will facilitate large joint projects in transportation, telecommunication, agriculture, innovation and energy conservation, as well as trade and tourism, aiming to greatly expand their trade volume and explore new markets, the declaration said.
Chinese President Hu Jintao said the modus operandi of the SCO represents a new model of international relations in the world.
“The achievements the SCO has made fully demonstrate that the organization is an important guardian of regional peace and stability and a strong impetus for common development and prosperity across the region, and enjoys a beautiful prospect in the future,” Hu was quoted by Xinhua as saying.
Over 500 terrorist plots have been foiled since the establishment of the Tashkent-based regional anti-terror structure in 2004, the SCO’s only other permanent organ besides the secretariat, Xinhua reported.
Sun Zhuangzhi, secretary-general of the SCO research center of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times that the SCO has completed a mechanism for talks and cooperation, but that both internal and external challenges remain.
“There are notable differences among SCO members in terms of economic strength, political systems and strategic interests.
In future cooperation, they will need to maximize their mutual interests while laying down differences,” Sun said, adding that its influence is still limited, compared with some major Eurasian blocs, such as NATO.
In the declaration, leaders expressed “deep concern” over the situation in West Asia and North Africa, voicing support for countries in the region to promote democracy in line with their own conditions.
They stressed strict adherence to UN Security Council Resolutions 1970 and 1973, which authorize the imposition of a no-fly zone in Libya.
Iran joined the meeting as an observer. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad held separate talks with Hu and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.
Hu urged Iran to “speed up the process of dialogue” with world powers over its nuclear programs.
The SCO also backed Russia’s criticism over Washington’s plan to build a missile defense shield for Europe.
“The unilateral and unlimited build-up of missile defense by a single state or by a narrow group of states could damage strategic stability and international security,” Reuters quoted the declaration as saying.
Alexey Malashenko, an expert on Eurasian politics with the Carnegie Moscow Center, told the Global Times that although this year’s summit shed more light on international issues, it was still dominated by China and Russia.
“China wanted the body to fulfill its economic interests, while Russia uses it mainly as a political tool. In terms of international influence, there is a notable gap between the SCO and NATO,” Malashenko said.
He noted that although the SCO has Iran as an observer and opposes Washington’s missile shield plan, it is not anti-Western.
Some Western think tanks have been urging NATO to approach the SCO.
Richard Weitz, a senior fellow and associate director of the Center for Future Security Strategies at the Hudson Institute in Washington DC, wrote on NATO’s official website that the Alliance could designate the SCO as a “global partner” to underscore the value of joint security cooperation, energy exploitation and economic development.
Weitz noted that through establishing formal ties with China, NATO members could insist on securing greater access to SCO activities.
US Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg said in June last year, “It is important that we continue to interact with the SCO and there are different ways in which non-members can engage with them.”
Separately, regarding the SCO’s expansion, Malashenko predicted that India and Pakistan would be next to gain full memberships. Iran, which is under UN sanctions, is unlikely to be allowed to join the group.
SCO hails anti-terror successes
