[cnr.cn]Guan Xueling: Carry Forward the "Shanghai Spirit" and Promote the Construction of Fair and Reasonable New Type of International Relations

The 18th meeting of the Council of Heads of Member States of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) was successfully held in Qingdao, Shandong Province from June 9th to 10th, 2018. All parties participating in the meeting jointly issued important statements and signed a series of important documents. In particular, President Xi Jinping’s important speeches during the small-scale talks, large-scale talks, and joint meetings with reporters during the summit clarified China’s position on major issues such as cooperation among nations and regional development under the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and provided many important suggestions and summed up the main results of this summit. The focus can be understood from the following three aspects:

First, under the guidance of the "Shanghai Spirit," we must promote the establishment of fair and reasonable new-type international relations. As pointed out by President Xi Jinping, “Although hegemonism and power politics still exist in the world today, the call to promote a more just and reasonable international order cannot be ignored. The democratization of international relations has become an irresistible trend of the times.” Mutual trust and mutual benefit, equality, consultation, respect for diverse civilizations, and seeking common development, the essence of the "Shanghai Spirit" subverts and transcends the "cold-war" thinking of the mid-to-long-term popular zero-sum game, civilized conflict, etc. in the field of international relations, advocating different civilizations and different systems. Large and small countries can exchange ideas and learn from each other in coexistence, and achieve common prosperity. At the moment when the "Shanghai Spirit" is about to enter its 18th year, its successful practice in the SCO shows that the "Shanghai Spirit" has gradually become more and more attractive and has been respected by many countries in different regions, providing valuable inspiration and experience. The SCO Qingdao Summit is not only a summary of the successful practice of the "Shanghai Spirit," but also provides a new impetus for all member states to continue working together under the guidance of the spirit to promote win-win cooperation and build new-type international relations.

Second, continue to firmly support economic globalization and regional integration so as to benefit the people of all countries in the region. At the SCO Summit, all member states unanimously signed the "Joint Statement of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Member States on Trade Facilitation" and sent a firm voice to the international community to support and safeguard economic globalization and its achievements. President Xi Jinping said at the summit that “although unilateralism, trade protectionism, and the counter-globalization trend of thought continue to have new performances, the 'global village' determines that the interests of all countries are increasingly blending, and win-win cooperation is the general trend. It is undeniable that after the global financial crisis in 2008, an anti-globalization trend of opposition to opening up has emerged in Western societies, affecting many countries’ domestic and foreign policies. President Xi Jinping pointed out in Davos, Switzerland, in January 2017 that “Economic globalization has indeed brought about new problems, but we cannot put a stick to economic globalization, but we must adapt and guide economic globalization and eliminate the negative impact of economic globalization, making it better for every country and every nation.” China has always stood by its position of supporting and safeguarding economic globalization and regional integration, and has continued to benefit all countries for economic globalization and regional integration, making its own contribution to the people all over the world. At the SCO Summit in Qingdao, the parties issued a unanimous voice, deciding that they will continue to uphold the principle of mutual benefit and win-win progress, improve regional economic cooperation arrangements, promote trade and investment facilitation, and create a new pattern of regional integration and development for the benefit of the people of all countries in the region to increased momentum in the development of the world economy. This is a clear affirmation and support for China’s consistent insistence on economic globalization.

Third, we must uphold a common, comprehensive, cooperative, and sustainable new security concept, and jointly safeguard regional security and stability. At the summit, President Xi Jinping pointed out: "Although various traditional and non-traditional security threats continue to emerge, the power to defend peace will eventually defeat the forces that undermine peace. Security and stability are the heart of the people." For a long time, some western countries were representative forces stubbornly persisted in the “cold-war” type of outdated thinking of the group’s confrontation, and at the expense of other countries’ security for their absolute security, they became a negative force that undermined regional peace and stability. In the face of this situation, the SCO member states have “joined together without alliance” for many years, strengthened exchanges in various fields, worked together and jointly responded to traditional and non-traditional security threats in the region, especially in combating terrorism, extremism and In terms of separatism and other "three forces," many fruitful cooperative mechanisms such as the "Peace Mission" counter-terrorism exercise have been formed, which have played a significant role in maintaining regional peace and stability. The SCO Qingdao Summit was the first summit after Pakistan and India became full member states. After the inclusion of two major South Asian countries, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization has become a truly comprehensive regional cooperation organization with the most extensive coverage and largest population in the world. From a new starting point, the SCO will have a stronger voice in important issues such as the Afghanistan issue and the Iran issue. It will become an important force that can safeguard peace and stability in the region and promote the common security of all countries.

President Xi Jinping’s speech at the SCO Qingdao Summit is a scientific review and summary of the 17-year development of the SCO, and for the next five to ten years and even longer periods, the development of the SCO and the friendship and cooperation among its members indicates the direction.