2018年CRI Experts react to conclusion of SCO Qingdao Summit

 

Experts have responded positively¹ to the results of the latest Summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

The summit concluded on Sunday and saw a series of meetings involving representatives from SCO members and observer states, as well as international organizations and institutions.

The Qingdao Summit marks the first meeting of SCO members after the organization expanded membership.

While addressing the summit, Chinese President Xi Jinping said that since its founding 17 years ago, despite the changes of international landscape, the SCO has grown into an influential² organization under the Shanghai Spirit.

Victoria Kwakwa, the World Bank's Vice³ President for East Asia and the Pacific, says the Shanghai Spirit pursues win-win outcomes and avoids zero-sum games.

Gao Fei, Assistant President of China Foreign Affairs University, says the Shanghai Spirit is the very pillar of the organization.

"Shanghai Spirit is a good reference for the world. In particular, our world today is faced with turbulences. Globalization still faces challenges. The building of an open world order with free trade is still impeded⁴ by protectionism. Under such circumstance, I think the SCO provides a good solution for maintaining good relations between countries."

Sourabh Gupta, senior researcher with the Institute for China-America Studies, further explained the Shanghai Spirit that coincides with the UN founding principles advocating equal voices between large and small nations.

Since China took over the rotating chair of the SCO in June last year, it has held over 160 activities to bridge communications between members.

As the two new members of the SCO, India and Pakistan understand the essence of the Shanghai Spirit.

Swaran Singh, a professor at India's Jawaharlal Nehru University, says the SCO eased India's tension with Pakistan and facilitated dialogues on issues including terrorism.

The former Special Envoy⁵ of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, Zafaruddin Mahmood says the SCO framework allows cooperation between countries of different backgrounds.

"We are so close to each other, but never had a chance to talk to each other in a long time. This year, we met at the summit and considered how to strengthen cooperation in many new areas. This shows to the world that countries with different political system, from different cultural backgrounds can cooperate well under the principle of Shanghai Spirit."

Speaking of the grave challenges facing the world during the Qingdao Summit, Xi Jinping elaborates new views of development, security, cooperation, civilization, and global governance.

Deng Hao, Secretary-general of China's National Research Center of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, says the new views of Xi Jinping are a new development of the Shanghai Spirit.

"These five views is a new extension to the Shanghai Spirit. It is also a summary of the successful experience of the SCO. I think it is very instrumental to further promote the Shanghai Spirit in a new era. It also provides guidance to building a community of shared future under the SCO framework."

The Qingdao Summit concluded with the signing of over 20 documents including the Qingdao Declaration, which clearly defined the "community of shared future."

Gao Fei, with China Foreign Affairs University, explained the concept.

"Nowadays, world countries are in a state of interdependence. Community of shared future is an important idea in China's major country diplomacy⁶. To build such a community, in detail, needs to build a new type of international relations. Meanwhile, I think the SCO itself is a good model of building such a community."

The concept was also echoed by other organizations.

Amina Mohammed, the deputy secretary-general of the United Nations, says the world needs more than ever to build a peaceful, united and tolerating environment, an effort in which she says China can play a leading role.

1 positively   

adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实

参考例句：

• She was positively glowing with happiness.她满脸幸福。
• The weather was positively poisonous.这天气着实讨厌。

2 influential   

adj.有影响的，有权势的

参考例句：

• He always tries to get in with the most influential people.他总是试图巴结最有影响的人物。
• He is a very influential man in the government.他在政府中是个很有影响的人物。

3 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

4 impeded   

阻碍，妨碍，阻止( impede的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Work on the building was impeded by severe weather. 楼房的施工因天气恶劣而停了下来。
• He was impeded in his work. 他的工作受阻。

5 envoy   

n.使节，使者，代表，公使

参考例句：

• Their envoy showed no sign of responding to our proposals.他们的代表对我方的提议毫无回应的迹象。
• The government has not yet appointed an envoy to the area.政府尚未向这一地区派过外交官。

6 diplomacy   

n.外交；外交手腕，交际手腕

参考例句：

• The talks have now gone into a stage of quiet diplomacy.会谈现在已经进入了“温和外交”阶段。
• This was done through the skill in diplomacy. 这是通过外交手腕才做到的。