BEIJING: China will work closely with fellow member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) to uphold the “Shanghai Spirit,” expand practical cooperation, and further develop the organization into a dependable platform for common growth and prosperity, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Monday.
Lin made the remarks while responding to questions about the 25th anniversary of the SCO, its achievements over the past quarter-century, and China’s role in advancing the organization’s development.
According to Lin, since its establishment on June 15, 2001, the SCO has evolved into a comprehensive regional organization encompassing the world’s largest geographic area and population among regional groupings, while also possessing significant development potential.
He noted that over the past 25 years, member states have consistently embraced the “Shanghai Spirit,” strengthened unity and coordination, and expanded cooperation across political, security, economic, and cultural sectors. These efforts, he said, have helped enhance regional security, deepen economic ties, and foster stronger people-to-people connections, while creating a model for a new type of international relations and regional cooperation.
Lin emphasized that China considers the SCO a key priority in its neighborhood diplomacy. He highlighted proposals put forward by President Xi Jinping, including the vision of building an SCO community with a shared future and a common home characterized by mutual trust, peace, prosperity, friendship, fairness, and justice.
The spokesperson also noted that President Xi has introduced a range of cooperation initiatives covering areas such as security, law enforcement, trade, investment, financial cooperation, cultural exchanges, and poverty reduction, injecting fresh momentum into the organization’s growth.
Referring to the 25th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the SCO held in Tianjin in September 2025, Lin said President Xi guided the organization into a new phase of high-quality development marked by stronger unity, deeper cooperation, greater vitality, and more tangible outcomes.
Looking ahead, Lin said China will continue working with all SCO members to advance cooperation and support the shared development and prosperity of participating countries.
