2018年CRI Experts urge western countries to understand "Shanghai Spirit"

 

Various observers are suggesting the rest of the world could be taking a lesson from the concept that the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) has been formed under the "Shanghai Spirit."

Serving as the SCO's principle for internal affairs, the "Shanghai Spirit" features "mutual¹ trust, mutual benefit, equality, mutual consultations², respect for cultural diversity and pursuit of common development."

In his speech at the now-concluded SCO Summit in Qingdao on Sunday, Chinese President Xi Jinping called for the continuation of the "Shanghai Spirit" to surmount³ difficulties, defuse risks and meet challenges.

Sourabh Gupta, a senior researcher with the Institute for China-America Studies, a U.S.-based think tank, says that "Shanghai Spirit" is the fundamental basis behind the SCO's success.

"This organization is built on the same principle as the United Nations, sovereign equality of countries, countries cooperating with each other. And the agenda is not set by the big powers only. It's a grouping of major middle and small countries. And each of them shares equally in the burdens and its benefits. This is essential, and vital and very, very important," says Gupta.

Stephen Perry, chairman of Britain's 48 Group Club - a UK advocacy group for trade with China - suggests other countries should be learning from the concepts of the "Shanghai Spirit."

"What is happening in Asia particularly inspired by China is the concept of economic development on a sustainable basis, working collectively with other nations and sharing the wealth. The emphasis is more on sharing in Asia than in the west. So as we go forward, I think the 'Shanghai Spirit' is a very important issue for the west to look at and understand. I think the 'Shanghai Spirit' will give a great opportunity for SCO to be successful as an organization that adjusts itself according to how even the small countries feel," says Perry.

Ahmad Hashemi, a senior American researcher of Middle East studies, says the SCO may change the dominant⁴ status of voices from developed countries.

"As we see some people now are talking about [the SCO] another model of EU, European Union in the east, another model of NATO, another model of G7. So again what we can see is the diversification⁵ of trade and commerce and interactions and different voices. So for the last couple centuries, the world was Eurocentric, Euro-American, but now we are witnessing that another voices are being heard, another countries are becoming great again," says Hashemi.

The SCO Qingdao Summit is the first meeting for the group since its expansion.

It was established in Shanghai in 2001, with China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan as its founding members.

India and Pakistan joined the organization during the Astana Summit a year ago.

1 mutual   

adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的

参考例句：

• We must pull together for mutual interest.我们必须为相互的利益而通力合作。
• Mutual interests tied us together.相互的利害关系把我们联系在一起。

2 consultations   

n.磋商（会议）( consultation的名词复数 )；商讨会；协商会；查找

参考例句：

• Consultations can be arranged at other times by appointment. 磋商可以通过预约安排在其他时间。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Consultations are under way. 正在进行磋商。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

3 surmount   

vt.克服；置于…顶上

参考例句：

• We have many problems to surmount before we can start the project.我们得克服许多困难才能著手做这项工作。
• We are fully confident that we can surmount these difficulties.我们完全相信我们能够克服这些困难。

4 dominant   

adj.支配的，统治的；占优势的；显性的；n.主因，要素，主要的人(或物)；显性基因

参考例句：

• The British were formerly dominant in India.英国人从前统治印度。
• She was a dominant figure in the French film industry.她在法国电影界是个举足轻重的人物。

5 diversification   

n.变化，多样化；多种经营

参考例句：

• The seminar was to discuss diversification of agriculture. 该研讨会讨论的是农业多种经营。 来自辞典例句
• Firm diversification is increasingly achieved by the means of takeover and merger. 通过接管和兼并，厂商经营范围日益多样化。 来自辞典例句