SCO members convene in Shanghai to address western sanctions

Officials, academics, and media delegates from member countries of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) convened in Shanghai on Saturday for a roundtable discussion on the inhumane nature of Western sanctions.

The meeting, held in China's financial hub, focused on the future direction and strategic plans of this influential Eurasian political, economic, security, and defense bloc, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media.

Representing a significant portion of the world's population and economy, the SCO's discussions covered a wide range of topics, including internal growth, external security, and practical decision-making. Amid rapidly changing geopolitical dynamics, speakers at the summit reiterated that the SCO is not an enemy of the West and poses no threat to any nation. Instead, they emphasized that the main objectives of this regional bloc are to stimulate economic growth among member states, bolster security, and establish strong regional alliances.

Participants reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the organization to enhance regional ties and defend against internal and external threats.

A Press TV correspondent at the conference highlighted the pressing need to establish a system within the SCO to safeguard and support member states targeted by Western sanctions. He argued that developing such a mechanism would bring mutual benefits, protecting countries affected by sanctions while allowing them to share their experiences in navigating and neutralizing these punitive measures.

Professor Pan Guang, a senior researcher at the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences and chief expert at the China National Institute for SCO (CNISCO), expressed China's strong opposition to sanctions against independent countries. He insisted that China views sanctions as a stance against humanity and advocated for collective efforts from all SCO member countries to oppose and thwart these draconian measures.

As a prime driver of the geopolitical landscape, the SCO represents nearly two-thirds of the Eurasian landmass, close to 40 percent of the global population, and around one-third of the world’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

The Islamic Republic of Iran, a new permanent member of the SCO as of September 2022, enjoys increased trading opportunities, resistance to sanctions, and broader financial exchanges within this powerful regional grouping, following relentless efforts by the Ebrahim Raisi administration.