Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Secretary-General Rashid Alimov has lauded the vitality and prospects of the SCO, saying it has strived for political stability, security, economic cooperation and common development among its member countries.
"Within the group, no one dominates, wins or loses, and agreements are reached through negotiation and consultation, which has made the SCO a paradigm of the peaceful co-existence of nations with different powers and various political systems and cultures," said Alimov.
Alimov made the remarks in an exclusive interview with Xinhua ahead of the 15th anniversary of the group's establishment, which falls on June 15. Later this month, an SCO summit will be held in Tashkent of Uzbekistan. It is scheduled to issue a document outlining SCO members' positions on global and regional issues.
Against the backdrop of changing international situation, increasing geopolitical tensions and a rise in terrorism, separatism and extremism, the coming summit is expected to make a vital contribution to safeguarding global and regional stability and will strengthen sustainable development of SCO members, Alimov said.
He noted that the regular meeting of SCO members helps cope with changing regional and global situations, and there have been fruitful results in joint campaigns to address drug trade, gun smuggling and other cross-border crimes.
Hundreds of potential terrorist attacks have been foiled in SCO member countries with the assistance of the organization, according to Alimov.
He added that members of the SCO have taken a great interest in the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative, which will boost and guide economic and trade cooperation between China and Eurasian countries.
The SCO should be "a bridge connecting Europe and Asia" when synergizing the development plans of its member countries, the Belt and Road Initiative and the projects proposed by the Eurasian Economic Union, said Alimov.
