SCO Initiatives for Common Security and Prosperity

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit was held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on September 15 and 16, 2022, with high hopes and expectations to address the multiple aggravated global challenges. The expectations pressured the SCO with the onerous responsibility of formulating methods to overcome such problems and charting a future direction in the interest of comprehensive security, common development, and world peace and prosperity. 

The SCO should already be credited with remarkable achievements in areas of expanding trade, increasing investment, boosting infrastructure, intensifying connectivity, and fostering comprehensive security partnerships. Consensus has been found to expand the SCO to make it even more representative of the Eurasian continent.

Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, after a stopover in Nur-Sultan, capital of Kazakhstan. The media in both countries published his articles elaborating on the long historical and cultural relations and achievements of deepening cooperation over the last three decades. He urged the Central Asian countries to embrace the “Shanghai Spirit” which had reinforced the main principles of cooperation since the SCO was established two decades ago.

President Xi assured attendees that work would continue on the Treaty on Long-term Good Neighbourliness, Friendship, and Cooperation among SCO member states for which he elaborated five-points: needs to enhance mutual support, expand security cooperation, deepen practical cooperation, enhance people-to-people and cultural exchange, and uphold multilateralism. He highlighted the complementarity of the Belt and Road Initiative and national development strategies and regional cooperation initiatives, and commented on growth-driven cooperation before announcing preparations for the China-SCO Big Data Cooperation Center and to organize SCO forums on poverty reduction and sustainable development.

Samarkand Declaration

The Samarkand Declaration of the SCO incorporated concerns of individual countries, priorities of regional cooperation, and global issues concerning humanity. It expressed satisfaction with progress on cooperation in a wide range of sectors. The declaration emphasized the need to realize the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the importance of strengthening connectivity to attain the objectives of the SCO.

The declaration devoted ample space to the menace of terrorism and denounced it in all its forms. It stressed the importance of consistent implementation of the Program of Cooperation of the SCO Member States in Countering Terrorism, Separatism, and Extremism for 2022-2024. The corruption and justice systems of respective countries have also been brought into focus of cooperation by talks of inter-judicial cooperation and creating conditions for deepening judicial reforms. The declaration also raised concerns about militarization of the ICT sphere, considering the necessity to ensure the use of technology for peaceful purposes for which it has emphasized the need “to create a safe, fair, and open information space.”

Sharing of experiences in development and governance has been considered highly significant. MOUs involving the League of Arab States, UNESCO, and the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) have been hailed as major steps in this direction.

Growing Concerns and New Initiatives

The SCO has raised concerns about unilateral economic sanctions without the approval of the UN system. Without directly referring to the Ukraine Crisis and subsequent economic sanctions against Russia, the declaration categorically mentioned that “unilateral application of economic sanctions other than those adopted by UNSC is inconsistent with the principles of international law and adversely affects third countries and international economic relations.” Russian President Vladimir Putin made his position very clear that economic sanctions against Russia are more damaging to developing countries for which Russia is ready to restore the supply chain to help meet their food and energy needs.

The declaration was categorical on the Iranian nuclear issue and emphasized “sustained implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action on the Iranian nuclear program, in accordance with UNSCR 2231, call upon all participants to rigorously implement their commitments for the full and effective implementation of the document.”

Moreover, the declaration explained that “free movement of goods, capital, services and technology” must be promoted under WTO rules. The SCO should also link its efforts to the BRI and Eurasian Economic Union (EEU). Deepening cooperation between SCO and the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-building Measures (CICA) was also considered important.

The Summit adopted new initiatives to establish a Special Working Group on Start-Ups and Innovation, a Special Working Group on Poverty Reduction, and an Expert Working Group on Traditional Medicine. It also declared 2023 SCO Tourism Year, Varanasi (India) as SCO Tourism and Cultural Capital for 2022-2023, 2025 as International Year for the Preservation of Glaciers, and approved a Statute on the honorary title of the SCO Goodwill Ambassador. These measures are likely to increase awareness about the importance and efficacy of the SCO.

Summation   

The Samarkand Declaration has reaffirmed commitment to a more representative, democratic, just and multipolar world order.

Unlike other west-led organizations such as G7 and NATO which tend to target perceived rival countries and enforce uniformity of development paths, security perception, and governance patterns, the SCO has “non-bloc character” and is more a constructive organization in addressing intra-regional, regional, and global challenges. It clearly stated that “the member states reaffirm the non-targeting of SCO against other states and international organizations and openness to extensive cooperation with them in accordance with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, the SCO Charter and international law based on the consideration of mutual interests and common approaches to solving regional and global problems.”

The SCO Summit sent a clear message to its members and the global community on ensuring common security (including disarmament, nuclear non-proliferation, and nuclear-free Central Asia), participative and sustainable development, and recognition of specificities of different governance patterns. It explicitly expressed a desire to reinvigorate “dialogue of civilizations” to serve humanity and posterity.

President Xi concluded that “the Eurasian continent is home to us all,” and that the increasing number of countries applying to join SCO demonstrates the strength of SCO’s vision and the widely shared confidence in its future. The expansion and development of SCO will lead to the creation of strong momentum and new dynamics ensuring durable peace and common prosperity on the Eurasian continent and throughout the world.

The author is former director and emeritus fellow at the South Asia Studies Centre of the University of Rajasthan in Jaipur, India.