Post #4202

🎙Remarks by President of Russia Vladimir Putin at SCO Plus meeting(Tianjin, September 1) 💬 President Putin: President Xi Jinping, colleagues. It is a pleasure to extend a warm welcome to all participants of today’s meeting in the SCO Plus format. This is not our first gathering in such an expanded format, bringing together the Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, leaders of observer states and SCO dialogue partners, honoured guests invited by the current chair, and the heads of leading international organisations. This clearly reflects the growing interest and attention of the international community in the multifaceted work of the #SCO. More and more countries are seeking open and equal dialogue. In addition to its ten full members, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation also engages two observer states – Mongolia and Afghanistan – as well as 15 dialogue partners. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith on his country’s unanimous admission as a partner of the SCO, as decided by the Heads of State Council. Applications from more than a dozen other countries seeking observer or dialogue partner status are currently under consideration. <...> Since its founding in 2001, the SCO has actively worked to promote peace, security, trust, and cooperation across our common Eurasian continent. In this context, we have carefully considered the proposals put forward by President Xi Jinping for establishing a more effective and functional system of global governance. Such efforts are particularly relevant at a time when certain countries continue to pursue dictatorial practices in international affairs. Russia supports President Xi Jinping’s initiative and is eager to engage in a substantive discussion of the proposals presented by our Chinese friends. It seems that the SCO is capable of playing a leading role in shaping a more just and equitable system of global governance. Such a system should be based on the primacy of international law and the core provisions of the UN Charter, be truly balanced, take into account the interests of the widest possible range of countries, and ensure opportunities for their sustainable development and security. The SCO is also actively advancing trade, economic, investment, and financial cooperation. It is noteworthy that, despite continuing challenges in the global economy, the combined GDP of the SCO member states grew by more than five percent in 2024, surpassing global averages. Industrial output rose by 4.6%. Cooperation is steadily deepening in such sectors as energy, finance, agriculture and food security, infrastructure, high technology, innovation, and transport. It is equally important that the SCO participants consistently uphold historical and cultural values as well as civilisational diversity. On this basis, people-to-people ties are expanding, and cooperation in science and education, healthcare, and sports continues to strengthen. <...> We would also like to invite delegations from all your countries to take part in the St Petersburg International Forum of United Cultures, which opens next week, as well as the Russia – a Sports Power forum, scheduled to take place this November in Samara. 🤝 I am confident that today’s meeting will be fruitful, strengthen the bonds of friendship among all the countries represented here, and help advance wide-ranging cooperation across many spheres. Read in full