China's president urges SCO members to resist state-baiting, protect world order PHOTOS from Tianjin summit

Chinese President Xi Jinping has called on member states to resist bloc confrontation and the targeting of individual countries, while safeguarding an international order centred on the United Nations.

“We must uphold justice and fairness, promote a correct understanding of the history of the Second World War, oppose Cold War mentality, bloc confrontation and bullying, and defend the international system with the UN at its core,” Xi stated at the 25th meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Tianjin, China, on September 1., Caliber.Az reports.

The Chinese leader also urged SCO members to contribute to building a new, fairer and more rational global governance system. “We must support the multilateral trading system, with the World Trade Organization at its centre,” he added, stressing the need to promote “inclusive economic globalization.”

Xi announced that China plans to carry out 100 small-scale development projects to improve the livelihoods in the SCO member states in need. “This year, China will provide 2 billion yuan (nearly $280 million) in grant assistance to member states,” he said.

The SCO currently includes 10 member states: China, Russia, Belarus, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Observer states Afghanistan and Mongolia are also attending the two-day summit, alongside dialogue partners Azerbaijan, Armenia, Bahrain, Egypt, Cambodia, Qatar, Kuwait, the Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Sri Lanka.

For the record, early in the morning of September 1, a meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the SCO member states began in the Chinese city of Tianjin.

During the event, the Universal Center for Combating Security Challenges and Threats, as well as the SCO Center for Drug Control, will be presented. A number of documents are also expected to be signed, including the Tianjin Declaration and the SCO Development Strategy until 2035.

Later today, an expanded “SCO Plus” session will be held with the participation of observer states and dialogue partners. President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, will take part in the meeting.

By Khagan Isayev