SCO steadily sails toward building community of common destiny
Later in 2013, the China-initiated outlines for implementing the Treaty on Long-Term Good-Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation between the SCO Member States were approved at the SCO summit in the Kyrgyz capital of Bishkek, laying a more solid foundation for deeper cooperation among the SCO members.
In September this year, the SCO held its 14th summit in the Tajik capital of Dushanbe and formulated a development blueprint aimed at regional stability and common prosperity.
In a joint declaration, the six SCO members pledged further concerted efforts to safeguard the security and stability of the region and tackle global challenges on the basis of mutual respect, equality and mutual trust.
The Dushanbe summit also ratified two documents that define the basic principles of membership enlargement, which set legal, administrative and financial criteria for adopting new members and officially paved the way for aspirant countries to join the bloc.
At present, the SCO is working out a development strategy which will be applicable till 2025 and a guidance document for the bloc's future development. Such a strategy will definitely inject strong momentum into the organization's development.
Meanwhile, analysts say that China's initiatives such as the Silk Road Economic Belt will produce very positive impact on the development of both the SCO and its member states.
At the forthcoming Astana meeting, all participants are expected to table their proposals and ideas on the construction of the economic belt, with a focus on strengthening the inter-connectivity and financial cooperation between the SCO members.