Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Thursday (4) urged regional leaders to resist “external interference” at a meeting of a Eurasian security bloc praised by Beijing and Moscow as a counterweight to Western power.
Addressing the annual Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) leaders’ summit in Kazakhstan, Xi called on member states to “consolidate the power of unity” in the face of “the real challenge of interference and division.”
“We must work together to resist external interference… and firmly grasp our own future and destiny, as well as regional peace and development, in our own hands,” Xi said, as quoted by Chinese state broadcaster CCTV.
The 10-member bloc should handle internal differences peacefully, seek common ground and resolve difficulties in cooperation, Xi added.
Founded in 2001 by China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan to combat terrorism and promote border security, the SCO has grown in recent years as Beijing and Moscow drive a transformation of the bloc from a regional security club focused on Central Asia as a geopolitical counterweight to Western institutions led by the United States and its allies.
On Thursday, Belarus, a staunch Russian ally that helped Moscow launch its 2022 invasion of Ukraine, became the latest authoritarian state to join the SCO, after Iran became a full member last year. The bloc underwent its first expansion in 2017 to welcome India and Pakistan.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was absent from this year’s event, further heightening the perception of the SCO’s anti-Western orientation.
At the summit, Xi warned against what he called “the real threat of the Cold War mentality” and called on member states to “keep our security baseline.”
He also urged countries to protect the right to development in the face of “the real risks of small backyards with high fences,” referring to a strategy adopted by the United States to restrict key technologies from China.
The Chinese leader stressed the need to jointly promote scientific and technological innovation and maintain the stability and smoothness of industrial and supply chains.
China-Russia Alignment
On the eve of the summit, Xi and Russian President Vladimir Putin – two leaders pushing for the SCO’s expansion – met on the sidelines of the summit and hailed the strengthening relationship between their countries.
In opening remarks ahead of the bilateral meeting, Putin said relations between Russia and China were going through the “best period in their history” and should be considered a “stabilizing” force for the world.
“Russian-Chinese cooperation on global affairs serves as the main stabilizing factor on the international stage, and we continue to further enhance it,” Putin told Xi. The Russian president also highlighted the roles of Moscow and Beijing “at the cradle” of the SCO’s founding and noted the organization’s rapid expansion in recent years.
“As the number of participants grew (…) the SCO also gained a greater role, as one of the main pillars of a fair multipolar world order,” Putin said.
China has already surpassed the European Union to become Russia’s top trading partner, offering a crucial lifeline to its heavily sanctioned economy. The two nuclear-armed neighbors have also continued to hold joint military exercises, including with Iran.
Meanwhile, the US has accused China of supplying Russia with dual-use goods that bolster the warring nation’s military-industrial complex as it attacks Ukraine, a charge Beijing denies. In his opening remarks on Wednesday, Xi told Putin that China and Russia should “uphold the original aspiration” of their “enduring friendship” amid “an international situation full of turbulence and change.”
Xi also praised the “unique value” of China-Russia relations, calling on the two countries to make new efforts to protect their “legitimate rights and interests” and “the basic norms governing international relations.”
“China and Russia should continue to strengthen comprehensive strategic coordination, oppose external interference and jointly safeguard regional tranquility and stability,” Xi said, according to a statement from the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
Source: CNN Brasil
Bruce Belcher is a seasoned author with over 5 years of experience in world news. He writes for online news websites and provides in-depth analysis on the world stock market. Bruce is known for his insightful perspectives and commitment to keeping the public informed.
