Editor's Note: The 19th meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) will be held in the capital city of Kyrgyzstan, Bishkek, from June 13 to 14.
The SCO is a permanent intergovernmental international organization, the creation of which was announced in 2001 in Shanghai by Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. The organization has expanded its membership to eight countries with India and Pakistan joining as full members in 2017 at a summit in Kazakhstan.
The SCO's main goals are: promoting their effective cooperation in politics, trade, the economy, technology and culture; making joint efforts to maintain and ensure peace, security and stability in the region; and moving towards the establishment of a democratic, fair and rational new international political and economic order.
Let's review what has been achieved since last year's SCO Qingdao Summit.
Politics
Assistant of Foreign Minister Chen Xiaodong delivers a speech at the opening ceremony of 2019 SCO Heads of Region Meeting held in southwest China's Chongqing on May 15, 2019. [Photo/fmprc.gov.cn]
The 2019 Shanghai Cooperation Organization Heads of Region Meeting opened in southwest China's Chongqing on May 15, 2019.
Chinese delegates and more than 130 overseas delegates from member states of China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Pakistan, and observer states of Afghanistan, Belarus, Iran, and Mongolia attended the meeting.
Sherali Saidamir Jonon, deputy secretary-general of the SCO Secretariat, said the meeting was expected to advance dialogue and deepen exchange between cities in commerce, trade, culture and tourism.
The theme of the meeting, sponsored by the Chongqing Municipal People's Government and the SCO Secretariat, was "Upholding Openness and Inclusiveness for New Opportunities of the SCO Regional Cooperation".
Economy and Trade
China-Europe freight trains begin their journey from Qingdao to Minsk. [Photo/IC]
The first China-Europe freight trains began to travel out of the Qingdao Multimodal Transport Customs Supervision Center under the supervision of customs on April 2. The trains carried 90 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent unit) of local export cargo. The main commodities are engine parts and solar modules.
The China-SCO Local Economic and Trade Cooperation Demonstration Zone was approved for construction in 2018. The demonstration area relies on practical advantages, such as the Qingdao Multimodal Transport Customs Supervision Center and the State-level Jiaozhou Economic and Technological Development Zone, to build Qingdao into a new artery to SCO countries.
A sign for the Qingdao International Import and Export Commodities Fair. [Photo/dailyqd.com]
The Qingdao International Import and Export Commodities Fair was held at the Qingdao Import and Export Commodity Exhibition and Trading Center in Jimo, Shandong province, from May 1 to 7. Suppliers from South Korea, Japan, Thailand, Ukraine and other regions participated. They brought more than 1,000 kinds of imported goods such as clothing, cosmetics, daily necessities and food.
In order to consolidate the achievements of the summit, Jimo has built the Qingdao Import and Export Commodity Exhibition and Trading Center. Fully integrating international and domestic resources, the trading center is based on the cross-border e-commerce B2B integrated service platform.
Military and defense
National flags of the participating nations fly during the opening ceremony of SCO Peace Mission 2018 in Russia on Aug 24, 2018. [Photo/IC]
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Peace Mission 2018 was held in Chebarkul, Russia. Military contingents of the all eight SCO member nations participated in this exercise. The exercise was aimed at enhancing cooperation between member states to deal with growing threat of terrorism and extremism.
Around 3,000 soldiers from eight SCO member countries took part in the exercise. Russian Army had major participation with 1,700 personnel followed by China with 700 and India with 200. Pakistan contingent comprised of 110 members.
The SCO Peace Mission Exercise takes place every two years.
Culture
A photo from the first Shanghai Cooperation Organization Film Festival, which concluded in Qingdao, East China's Shandong province, on June 2. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization Film Festival opened in grand style on June 14, 2018, gathering movie stars and celebrated directors from the bloc's 12 member and observer states. It is designed to promote cooperation and exchanges and build a bridge of friendship between different countries.
People-to-people exchange
During an opening ceremony, youth delegates participate in the naming ceremony of a sailboat and learn basic sailing skills. The boat was christened SCO Youth, symbolizing concerted efforts, joint endeavors and new journeys for the younger generation. [Photo/Xinhua]
Youth representatives from SCO countries jointly participated in the "SCO Youth Campus", vowing to stand up to new threats and challenges worldwide and strengthen trade-economic and cultural-humanitarian cooperation. The campus' opening ceremony was held on July 16, 2018.
The SCO Youth Campus is an important part of China's support for youth development. It serves as an effective platform for youth exchanges among SCO countries.
