Chinese FM calls for further practical cooperation within SCO

BISHKEK, July 15 (Xinhua) -- Visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi stressed here on Monday the need to promote practical cooperation among member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) to add vitality to the security bloc.

"So far, the SCO has played an indispensable role in safeguarding security and stability in the region and in all member states," Wang told reporters after an SCO foreign ministers' meeting in the capital of Kyrgyzstan.

"At the same time, it has also witnessed the signature of a series of important treaties and agreements and the development of exchanges and cooperation in other fields," he said.

To add new vitality to the SCO, Wang said, it is necessary to grasp the opportunity and vigorously push forward practical cooperation among member states.

The Chinese foreign minister noted that the most important issue facing all SCO member countries is developing and revitalizing the economy to improve people's livelihoods. "The high level of economic complementarity and connection between SCO member states offers vast room and huge potential for strengthening win-win cooperation," he said.

Wang proposed that on the basis of further safeguarding regional peace and security, the SCO countries need to strengthen their infrastructure to make communication and exchanges easier.

They should also actively push ahead with trade and investment facilitation, take advantage of each country's comparative strengths and seek more benefits for the people.

The SCO countries should expand cultural and people-to-people exchanges to deepen mutual understanding between the peoples of member countries in order to consolidate the social and public basis of the SCO, said the Chinese foreign minister.

Wang said that, as an SCO founder and an advocate for the Shanghai Spirit, China is ready to work with all member states to make active efforts and strive for new progress in order to enhance the SCO's internal strength.

"A more solid and sound self-building within the SCO will contribute to stronger action power and attraction of the SCO, and help the organization play a bigger role on the international and regional stage," Wang said.

The SCO was founded in Shanghai on June 15, 2001 and currently has six full members -- China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

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