22nd meeting of the SCO in Samarkand, the “Jewel” of the Great Silk Road

Dispute between the presidents of China and Russia? – Just wishful thinking of Western mainstream media

by Georg Koch

(28 September 2022) On 15/16 September, the 22nd conference of the “Shanghai Cooperation Organisation” (SCO) took place in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. It was held under the motto "Dialogue and Cooperation in an Interconnected World".

The organisation, founded in 2001, had emerged from the “Shanghai Five”, which had already been founded in 1996. The SCO has set itself the goal of improving trade relations and finding mutually beneficial compromises for any interstate problems. This year's conference in the ancient city of Samarkand, the “Jewel” of the Great Silk Road, was attended by the heads of state of the following countries: China, Russia, India, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Turkey, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Iran, Afghanistan, Armenia and Azerbaijan.

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Excerpts from the letter of invitation from Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev:

“The modern system of international cooperation, based on the universal principles and norms, begins to falter. One of the main reasons for this is a deep crisis of trust at the global level, which, in turn, provokes a geopolitical confrontation and the risk of reviving the bloc thinking stereotypes. This process of mutual alienation complicates the return of the world economy to its former course of development and the restoration of global supply chains.

The ongoing armed conflicts in different parts of the world destabilize trade and investment flows, exacerbate the problems of ensuring food and energy security.

Along with this, global climate shocks, growing scarcity of natural and water resources, decline in biodiversity, spread of dangerous infectious diseases have exposed the vulnerability of our societies as never before. They lead to destruction of existential common goods, threatening the basis of people’s life and reducing sources of income.

A constructive dialogue and multilateral cooperation

In these circumstances, it is obvious that no country alone can hope to avoid or cope with these global risks and challenges.

There is only one way out of the dangerous spiral of problems in an interconnected world where we all live today – through a constructive dialogue and multilateral cooperation based on consideration and respect to the interests of everyone. It is exactly at the time of crisis, when all the countries – whether they are large, medium or small by size – must put aside their narrow interests and focus on such mutual interaction, unite and multiply the common efforts and possibilities to counter the threats and challenges to peace, security and sustainable development that are related to each of us.

The effective international cooperation makes the world more stable, predictable and prosperous. This is the most viable, accessible and closest way to solving common problems of our time as well as a universal insurance policy against the future challenges and shocks. […]

The international cooperation that lays in the interest of everyone is impossible without multilateral institutions. Despite the certain shortcomings, they continue to serve as the most important agents of interaction between the countries – at the regional and global levels. The international and regional organizations help countries to overcome the differences and strengthen mutual understanding, to develop political and economic cooperation, to expand trade and stimulate cultural and humanitarian exchanges.

The SCO family

These are the goals and objectives that are pursued by one of the youngest multilateral institutions – the ‘Shanghai Cooperation Organization’ (SCO). In fact, it is a unique interstate structure that has managed to unite countries with different cultural and civilizational codes, their own foreign policy guidelines and models of national development. In a relatively short historical period, the SCO has come a long way, becoming an integral element of the modern global political and economic world order.

Today, the SCO family is the world’s largest regional organization, which has united a huge geographical space and about a half of the population of our planet.

The basis for the SCO’s international attractiveness is its non-bloc status, openness, non-targeting against third countries or the international organizations, equality and respect for the sovereignty of all participants, refusal to interfere in the internal affairs, as well as prevention of political confrontation and unhealthy rivalry.

A success concept

The SCO’s success concept is the promotion of multifaceted cooperation through ensuring regional security.

In fact, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization is called upon to become a pole of attraction without dividing lines, in the name of peace, cooperation and progress.

Therefore, the number of states that are ready to cooperate with the SCO is growing every year, and this is especially noticeable in the context of the transformation of the modern system of international and regional relations.

The economic value of the SCO is enhanced by the self-sufficiency of its space, where there are dynamically developing economies of the world with huge human, intellectual and technological potential, and the existence of large volumes of unused natural resources.

Today, the total GDP of the SCO member states has reached about a quarter of the global figure. This is already a very solid contribution to the global sustainable development from a regional organization that has just crossed its 20-year threshold. […]

Our slogan is ‘The SCO is strong if each of us is strong’. […]

A new peaceful mission for Afghanistan

I am full of confidence that it is important and necessary for the SCO to share its success story with Afghanistan. This country is an integral part of the larger SCO space. The Afghan people need good neighbours and their support now more than ever. It is our moral obligation to extend a helping hand, to offer them effective ways of overcoming the years-long crisis by promoting socio-economic growth of the country, its integration into regional and global development processes.

Afghanistan that has played for centuries the role of a buffer in the historical confrontations of global and regional powers, should try on a new peaceful mission of connecting Central and South Asia.

The construction of the trans-Afghan corridor could become a symbol of such mutually beneficial inter-regional cooperation. It is also important to understand that by implementing joint infrastructure projects such as the Termez – Mazar-i-Sharif – Kabul – Peshawar railroad we are not just solving socio-economic, transport and communication problems, but also making a significant contribution to ensuring regional security.

By bringing our positions closer to each other, together we can develop a new SCO agenda for a more peaceful, stable and prosperous Afghanistan. Only in this way can we create a truly stable and sustainable SCO space with an indivisible security. […]

Samarkand, a melting pot of ideas and knowledge

Historically Samarkand has been a melting pot of ideas and knowledge, that was ‘cooking’ a common goal of living better, being more successful and becoming happier. And everybody has known that the friendly neighbours are half of your wealth, you yourself are a blessing for them, because you know that cooperation, trade, oeuvre, science, art and the best ideas do good, enrich and bring nations together. […]

The integrity and interconnectivity of mankind are such that most challenges require joint work not only at the regional level, but also at the global arena.

Relying on the experience of our many years of joint work, we are confident that the Samarkand SCO summit will set an example of how we can launch a new, inclusive dialogue based on the principles of mutual respect, trust and constructive cooperation for the sake of common security and prosperity.

Samarkand can become the platform that can unite and reconcile states with different foreign policy priorities. […]

We are full of optimism and are convinced that the decisions of the upcoming summit of Shanghai Cooperation Organization will make a feasible contribution to strengthening the dialogue, mutual understanding and cooperation both at the regional level and on a global scale.”

(Source: https://president.uz/en/lists/view/5495)  (Intertitles by the editor)

New admissions and further dialogue partnerships

At the 22^nd Conference, in addition to many bilateral meetings of the Presidents present, 44 agreements, concepts and programmes for multilateral cooperation were signed, including a comprehensive action plan for the implementation of the provisions of the SCO Treaty on Long-Term Good Neighbourliness, Friendship and Cooperation for 2023–2027, as well as important agreements for the establishment of important trade corridors.

Iran was newly admitted to the SCO and preparations for the new admission of Belarus were decided. Furthermore, the dialogue partnership with the Republic of Maldives, the Kingdom of Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, the Republic of Myanmar and the State of Kuwait was decided.

Memorandums of Understanding were signed with the League of Arab States, UNESCO and the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP). The President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, was invited to attend the conference in Samarkand as a guest of honour. The conference was experienced as successful and friendly by all. It was agreed that a big step had been taken in building a multilateral world – which now represents the majority of the world's population – for the benefit of all people.

The reports in the Western media that a discord between Russia and China became apparent at this conference is – if one looks at the meetings during the conference – just wishful thinking.

As agreed, Presidents Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping held five meetings in Samarkand, at which they further deepened their bilateral cooperation.

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President Putin greeted his Chinese counterpart with the following words:

“Comrade Xi Jinping, my dear friend, Chinese colleagues, it is a pleasure to welcome you at the meeting.

I would like to note that the President and I met in Beijing during the Olympic Games six months ago, and many events have happened since then. The world is rapidly changing but there is one thing that remains unchanged. I am referring to the friendship between China and Russia, and, in the full sense of the term, to our good relations of strategic, comprehensive partnership. And we continue strengthening these relations. […]

The Russian-Chinese interstate interaction can be regarded as a model. The foreign policy tandem of Moscow and Beijing plays a key role in ensuring global and regional stability. Together, we support building a just, democratic and multipolar world order based on international rules and the central role of the United Nations, not on certain rules that someone has invented and is attempting to impose on others without even explaining what it is all about.

In general, I must say that the attempts to create a unipolar world have acquired in recent times an absolutely ugly configuration and they are absolutely unacceptable for the overwhelming majority of states on this planet.

We appreciate our Chinese friends’ balanced position in connection with the Ukraine crisis. We understand your questions and your concerns in this regard. During today’s meeting we will certainly explain in detail our position on this issue, although we have spoken about this before now.

For our part, we have firmly, in practice, abided by the One China principle. We condemn provocations staged by the United States and its satellites in the Strait of Taiwan. We discussed this with Speaker of Parliament, Chairman [of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress] Li Zhanshu in Vladivostok a short while ago.

Multifaceted ties between our countries are expanding. Last year, trade grew by 35 percent to over $140 billion. In the first seven months of this year, our trade increased by another 25 percent. I am convinced that by the end of the year we will reach new record high levels, and in the near term, as agreed, we will bring our annual trade to $200 billion or more. […]

The SCO includes countries with different cultural and civilisational traditions, foreign policy goals and national development models. However, building our work on the principles of equality and mutual benefit, respecting each other's sovereignty, and refraining from interfering in internal affairs made it possible for us to make this organisation an effective mechanism for multilateral cooperation.

It is the world’s largest regional organisation that covers a vast geographical area and represents about half of the planet’s population.

I am confident that today's meeting will provide an additional boost to deepening Russian-Chinese strategic partnership both bilaterally and internationally. Thank you.”

Response from the President of China Xi Jinping (retranslated):

“Mr President, my dear old friend, I am happy to see you again.

In February, we took pleasure in the joint celebration of the beginning of spring and the opening of the Winter Olympics, as well as our discussion of the ambitious plans to expand Cino-Russian relations.

Amid the pandemic, we continue to maintain effective strategic contacts, in particular, by way of telephone calls.

In the face of ongoing formidable global changes that have never been seen in history, we are ready to work with our Russian colleagues to set an example of what a responsible global power is and assume leadership in order to bring the rapidly changing world onto a path of sustainable and positive development.

I would like to take this opportunity and say that I am prepared to exchange views with you on the bilateral agenda, as well as on international and regional issues of mutual interest. […]”

Source: http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/69356

Summary of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs:

“On the afternoon of 15 September local time, President Xi Jinping held a bilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin at Forumlar Majmuasi Complex in Samarkand to exchange views on China-Russia relations and international and regional issues of shared interest.

President Xi noted that since the beginning of this year, China and Russia have maintained effective strategic communication. Bilateral cooperation in the various fields has moved forward steadily, with activities of the Year of Sports Exchange well underway, and a robust momentum in sub-national cooperation and people-to-people exchange. The two countries have maintained close coordination on the international stage to uphold basic norms of international relations.

In the face of changes of the world, of our times and of history, China will work with Russia to fulfil their responsibilities as major countries and play a leading role in injecting stability into a world of change and disorder.

President Xi emphasized that China will work with Russia to extend strong mutual support on issues concerning each other’s core interests, and deepen practical cooperation in trade, agriculture, connectivity and other areas.

The two sides need to enhance coordination and cooperation under multilateral frameworks including the ‘Shanghai Cooperation Organization’ (SCO), the Conference on Interaction and ‘Confidence-Building Measures in Asia’ (CICA) and the BRICS to promote solidarity and mutual trust among the various parties, expand practical cooperation, and safeguard the security interests of the region as well as the common interests of the developing countries and emerging markets.

President Putin wished the 20th National Congress of the ‘Communist Party of China’ (CPC) a full success and believed that under the leadership of President Xi Jinping, China will keep making new achievements in economic and social development. President Putin noted that the world is undergoing multiple changes, yet the only thing that remains unchanged is the friendship and mutual trust between Russia and China.

The Russia-China comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination is as stable as mountains. Both Russia and China stand for a more equitable and reasonable international order, setting a fine example in international relations.

The Russian side is firmly committed to the one-China principle and condemns the provocative moves by individual countries on issues concerning China’s core interests. Russia will consolidate and deepen bilateral and multilateral communication and collaboration with China and expand cooperation in key areas such as trade and energy.

Russia will work with China to promote continued, deeper cooperation among the SCO member states based on the principle of non-interference in each other’s internal affairs, so as to build an authoritative platform for upholding regional security and stability.

President Xi appreciated Russia’s adherence to the one-China principle, stressing that Taiwan is part of China, the Chinese side firmly opposes the ‘Taiwan independence’ separatist forces and external interference, and no country is entitled to act as a judge on the Taiwan question.

Ding Xuexiang, Yang Jiechi, Wang Yi, He Lifeng and other officials attended the meeting.”

Source: https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/mfa_eng/topics_665678/cxshgsfwhw/202209/t20220915_10766678.html

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All these statements are also available to the Western mainstream media.

Interpreting discord into the cordial exchanges between President Xi and President Putin is either wishful thinking or an act of war propaganda by Western news agencies.