Soundbites

Since its inception, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization

(SCO) has achieved remarkable progress based on the “Shanghai Spirit” of mutual trust, mutual respect, equality, mutual consultations, respect for diverse civilizations and pursuit of common development and has made great contributions to peace and stability as well as common prosperity in the region. Given the rising disputes and conflicts from anti-globalization and trade protectionism, it is of great importance to strengthen the multilateral partnership within the framework of the SCO. Liu Yuanchun, vice-president of Renmin University of China The fact that the SCO accepted

India and

Pakistan as full members reflects the inclusiveness and common development that the organization pursues based on the “Shanghai Spirit”, which should be valued and carried on in a proactive manner. However, the enlargement of the organization will possibly result in more differences and even conflicts among the SCO members, so reform on the institutional setups of the organization and decision-making principles needs to be considered for the efficiency of the regional organization. People-to-people and cultural exchanges should be promoted among the SCO members to increase their mutual trust.

Wang Jinguo, vice-director of the Institute for Central Asian Studies of Lanzhou University The influence of the SCO keeps rising due to its inclusiveness and cohesiveness embodied by the “Shanghai Spirit”, which is the soul of the organization. The biggest achievement the SCO has made since its inception in 2001 is that it has safeguarded the security and stability of Central Asia. The achievement is hard won given the vast population, territory and nationalities in the region. The Qingdao Summit, which is the first one after the organization admitted India and Pakistan as its full members, is expected to highlight the importance of the “Shanghai Spirit” once again. Despite slow progress in economic cooperation within the SCO, we should be confident the future development of the organization is promising. Yao Peisheng, senior diplomat and former ambassador to Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan The Belt and Road Initiative is conducive to enhancing the economic partnership among the

SCO members as the principle and spirit that the initiative and the SCO uphold are similar. The integration of the initiative with the development strategy of the SCO members will help achieve common prosperity in the region. Economic partnership should work in synergy with security cooperation to promote members’ partnership while mutual political trust is intensified.

Liu Ying, researcher of Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies, Renmin University of China