SCO summit concludes with set goals for closer cooperation, common development: People's Daily
16/6/2006 15:22
China's leading newspaper, the People's Daily, on Friday hailed the
success of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit, saying it
concluded with set goals for closer cooperation to achieve common development
among member states.
The newspaper called the meeting a significant one of
unprecedented large scale that had attracted world attention. The heads of state
or representatives of all the member countries and observer countries as well as
related international organizations. United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan
sent a message of congratulations for the convening of the summit.
"This
fully demonstrated the wide international influence and vitality of the SCO,"
the paper says in an editorieal.
The SCO, established five years ago,
comprises China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
Mongolia, Pakistan, Iran and India are observers of the organization.
When
the heads of state of the member countries met here again to celebrate the fifth
anniversary of the SCO, they all expressed their determination to push forward
the development of the organization after a historic leap forward on the basis
of its predecessor -- the "Shanghai Spirit" which features mutual trust, mutual
benefit, equality, consultation, respect for multi- civilizations and pursuit of
common development.
The successful experience of the SCO can be condensed to
one point, that is to unswervingly advocate and practice the "Shanghai Spirit"
of mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, respect for cultural diversity and a
desire for common development, says the editorial.
The "Shanghai Spirit," as
the most important code of conduct of the SCO, enriches the theory and practice
of contemporary international relations and embodies the shared aspiration of
the international community for realizing democracy in international relations,
it says, adding the spirit is therefore of vital importance to the international
community's pursuit of a new model of international relations.
A major
achievement of the summit is that all heads of state reached a consensus that
the organization will continue to devote themselves to the establishment of a
new global security architecture of mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality and
mutual respect, says the editorial.
The SCO will seek to settle disputes
through negotiations on the basis of mutual understanding and the widely
recognized principles of international law. The SCO respects the right of all
countries to safeguard national unity and national interests, pursue particular
models of development and formulate domestic and foreign policies independently,
and participate in international affairs on an equal basis. The SCO also
respects and upholds diversity of civilization and development patterns.
The
past practice proved that the SCO is a major power to maintain regional and
world peace, stability and prosperity. Yet it still faces great challenges and
heavy tasks in the future, the editorial says.
However, as long as the SCO
member states adhere to the " Shanghai Spirit" to deepen cooperation, the
organization will sure bring more benefits to all the people in the region and
make greater contribution to world peace and development.
Xinhua News
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