SCO shows Shanghai Spirit

Enhanced pragmatic cooperation between members will help create a prosperous and secure regional community

The 12th prime ministers' meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization member states yielded fruitful achievements on boosting economic cooperation and people-to-people communication within the SCO framework.

Held in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan, on Thursday and Friday, the meeting demonstrated the aspirations, confidence and determination of the member states to build regional peace, security and prosperity by upholding the Shanghai Spirit and providing guidance for the organization to stride forward toward the goal of a regional political, security, economic and social community.

Premier Li Keqiang and leaders from other member nations of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization attend the 12th SCO Prime Ministers' meeting in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan, on Nov 29. [Photo / Xinhua]

Unanimous and sound judgments on the global economic situation were made at the meeting, and accordingly ways to enhance cooperation and exchanges to secure smooth economic growth and jointly address a variety of challenges were put forward. Such collective judgments reflect the high degree of political mutual trust among the member states, as well as their desire to actively collaborate with each other in dealing with challenges.

A variety of cooperation deals were signed at the meeting, aimed at implementing the consensus reached at the Bishkek Summit, fully manifesting the resolution of the member states to implement the various cooperation projects that exist within the SCO, and increase the efficiency in future cooperation. For example, the meeting highlighted the importance of implementing the Programme of Multilateral Trade and Economic Cooperation of the SCO Member States, the list of measures to further promote the SCO project cooperation in 2012-16, and other cooperative documents, and put forward relevant proposals for their implementation.

There were also new operational cooperative initiatives, ideas and plans put forward at the meeting, reflecting the high expectations and confidence of the member states in the benefits of future pragmatic cooperation within the SCO. Negotiations on the creation of an SCO development bank and SCO development fund are also to be promoted and an inter-governmental agreement on international road transport facilitation is to be signed at an early date.