SCOSummitExpectations

      By Shaolei Feng

      The Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit is taking place in a radically changed environment. Firstly, all member states are now showing a spirit of unity and cooperation, as they are using their individual advantages to ensure positive changes in each nation’s key macroeconomic indicators and to overcome the challenges of the international financial crisis. Secondly, SCO members have reinforced their consultation and cooperation on work to counter terrorism, the spread of drugs and religious extremism. These efforts have had a clear effect in stabilizing the region. Thirdly, the SCO has taken a series of practical measures in knowledge and cultural exchanges, under which there are frequent and in-depth personnel exchanges. In addition, the SCO has made solid progress in its work setting up universities.

      It is also worth noting that recently, as an important member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, Russia has acted so positively and actively in global, regional and a range of peripheral issues that it’s hard for us to believe the enormous difficulties Russia faced as a result of the financial crisis. Bilateral relations between Russia and America, which deteriorated in recent years, have taken a positive turn after the “resetting” process; bilateral relations between Russia and Ukraine have significantly improved following Ukraine’s presidential election; Russia’s political influence has expanded following the political changes in Kyrgyzstan; even in the difficult and sensitive time following the  Polish president’s plane crash in April, Russia saw an improvement in diplomatic relations with Poland. All this demonstrates Russia’s particular influence in Eurasia, and especially in Central Asia.

      In view of today’s rapidly changing international situation and the pressing issues of regional security and development, the SCO’s function and influence need to be further strengthened. The effects of the financial crisis have not yet passed. Stability and economic development still remain the primary tasks for SCO member and observer countries. The Shanghai Cooperation Organization needs to make greater efforts in improving the external conditions to benefit the wellbeing and long-term development of each individual member country. The war in Afghanistan continues and a variety of related cross-border criminal and terrorist activities are rampant. Therefore, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization’s strengthened cooperation and rational response are still required if we are to realize real, lasting peace and stability in this region. In addition, in the face of a series of non-traditional security challenges, multi-lateral cooperation in fields such as overcoming poverty, dealing with climate change and regarding the use of water resources all require the Shanghai Cooperation Organization to continue to play a constructive coordinating role. In this sense, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization can only move forward, not backward.

      As the first regional organization jointly initiated byChina,Russia and the Central Asian countries, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization’s progress and difficulties have been of great interest to the Chinese people. I believe the Chinese people do not only eagerly await further progress in Eurasian regional stability, cooperation and development under the Shanghai Cooperation Organization but are also willing to play their part in contributing to this, taking responsibility in the interests of the cause.

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