Xi urges SCO to strengthen cooperation

President calls for members to improve global governance, safeguard intl order

President Xi Jinping has called for Shanghai Cooperation Organization countries to strengthen solidarity and cooperation amid volatile changes in the international landscape, uphold true multilateralism and work together to improve global governance to ensure the international order is more just and equitable.

Xi made the remarks in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on Friday when delivering a speech at the 22nd meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the SCO. The meeting concluded on Friday with a declaration and four statements on upholding international food and energy security as well as secure, stable and diversified supply chains, and responding to climate change.

Leaders of the SCO member states signed a memorandum of obligations on Iran's SCO membership during the meeting. The meeting also launched the procedure for Belarus' accession, and also admitted Bahrain, the Maldives, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Myanmar as new dialogue partners. It adopted the Comprehensive Plan for the Implementation of the SCO Treaty on Long-Term Good-Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation for 2023-2027.