☉ 太和智库线上英文刊物《太和观察家》2024年10月刊第49期原创文章，转载请注明出处。
☉ This article is from the October issue of TI Observer (TIO), an online publication of Taihe Institute. Please indicate the source if you hope to share this article.
☉ 点击“阅读原文”，查看本期精彩内容。（文件加载需要时间，请耐心等待）
☉ Click "Read More" to access the full text of TIO vol. 49. (It may take some time to download the PDF text.)
正文862字，读完约需4分钟。
Wordcount: 862. The article will take about 4 minutes to read.
努尔兰·叶尔梅克巴耶夫
Nurlan Yermekbayev
·上海合作组织副秘书长
·Deputy Secretary-General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization
Introduction
The interconnected nature of today's global challenges calls for unity among nations. However, escalating geopolitical instability and deepening divisions are obstructing paths toward collaborative international efforts. To explore potential avenues for global cooperation amidst an increasingly complex and polarized international landscape, the Sub-Session on International Relations of the 8th Taihe Civilizations Forum (TCF) was convened on September 20, 2024 in Beijing. The following speech was given at the event and has been edited for clarity.Standing at a crucial crossroads, the world is witnessing profound changes. Amidst increasing political and military conflicts in many regions and a slowdown in global economic growth, it is highly relevant to host the 8th Taihe Civilizations Forum, collectively exploring ways to ensure a prospect of security and development. Taihe Institute, one of China's leading think tanks, is committed to the mission of "facilitating mutual appreciation between civilizations and promoting global peace and development." In Chinese, "Taihe" literally means "supreme harmony." True to its name, Taihe Institute perfectly resonates with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), which is built around "shared values and harmonious development."
The SCO is a relatively young trans-regional organization, established just over two decades ago. Since its inception, the SCO has charted an impressive path of development, from its original six founding member states to a "large family" of 26 countries, including 10 member states, 2 observer states, and 14 dialogue partners. Today, the SCO is recognized as the world's largest international organization, both in terms of the territory and population it covers. With the addition of Belarus, the collective area of the SCO member states now reaches over 36 million square kilometers, accounting for more than 65% of Eurasia. Additionally, the population within SCO member states exceeds 3.3 billion, which represents about 42% of the global population. Many countries have expressed interest in participating in the SCO and wish to join its activities in various capacities. The SCO focuses on a wide array of topics essential for the harmonious development of humanity, which closely aligns with the core mission of Taihe Institute. These areas include socio-economic development, cultural and humanitarian cooperation, poverty alleviation, education, and healthcare.
The SCO's significant achievements are rooted in its steadfast commitment to the "Shanghai Spirit," which upholds mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, consultations, respect for the diversity of civilizations, and pursuit of common development. This spirit advocates for each nation's right to choose its own development path and systems. It fosters an environment conducive to peaceful coexistence and mutually beneficial cooperation among countries with diverse politics, cultural traditions, and socioeconomic development models. The "Shanghai Spirit" constitutes the moral and ideological core of the SCO and lays the foundation for a new type of international relations for today's world.On July 4, 2024, the 24th meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization was successfully held in Astana, Kazakhstan. The participating leaders discussed a broad range of issues, from transportation and trade to security and humanitarian concerns, reaffirming their firm commitment to the fight against the "three evils"—terrorism, separatism, and extremism. As the SCO enters its third decade, heads of member states have acknowledged the SCO's role as a robust platform for fostering neighborly trust, expanding multilateral dialogue, and enhancing cooperation. The group has established itself as a prestigious multilateral organization that plays a crucial role in maintaining regional security and stability amidst today's complex geopolitical landscape. During the summit, in addition to the Astana Declaration of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, several other resolutions were adopted, including the SCO Initiative on World Unity for a Just Peace, Harmony, and Development. The SCO also designated Qingdao, China, as the SCO's tourism and cultural capital for 2024-2025. Additionally, three Heads of State Council (HSC) statements were issued, including the Statement on the Principles of Good Neighborliness, Trust, and Partnership.Security cooperation has been one of the priorities of the SCO since its establishment, and notable progress has been made in this regard. Over the past two decades, SCO member states have championed the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative, and sustainable security. They have implemented robust measures to effectively address a range of security challenges and threats. The SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (SCO RATS), established in 2002, is dedicated to combating the "three evils." The group has been organizing regular Joint Anti-Terrorist Exercises since 2006 and coordinating Joint Border Operations since 2013. To develop a unified stance on security issues and coordinate joint operations, the SCO has established several meeting mechanisms, including the Meeting of Security Council Secretaries, the Meeting of the Chiefs of the General Staffs of the Armed Forces, the Defense Ministers' Meeting, the Prosecutors General Meeting, and the Meeting of the Heads of the SCO Counter-Narcotics Agencies.The SCO continuously broadens its scope of cooperation, addressing critical issues such as drug trafficking, organized transnational crime, and cybercrime, while also focusing on security concerns related to food, energy, ecosystems, public health, and epidemic prevention. Regrettably, the regions covered by the SCO face an increasingly complex situation due to escalating global crises, intensified geopolitical conflicts, and the rise of new challenges and threats. This year, many terrorist attacks occurred globally, affecting areas within the SCO's geographical coverage. These developments underscore the imperative to not only sustain, but also intensify security cooperation within the SCO.While the world evolves and the SCO adapts, the "Shanghai Spirit" remains unchanged. Committed to collaboration with the global community, the SCO strives to foster a more equitable and sound international order.The above contents only represent the views of the authors, and do not necessarily represent the views or positions of Taihe Institute.太和智库线上英文刊物《太和观察家》（TI Observer）致力于促进中外沟通交流，弥合“理解鸿沟”。
TI Observer (TIO) is an online monthly English publication produced by Taihe Institute. TIO is dedicated to promoting transnational interaction and mutual understanding, thus bridging the gap of misunderstanding and bringing China and the world closer to each other.
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