By Ko Ko (SethmuTakatho)
Flags from various countries flutter on the building’s main facade, swaying gently in Shanghai’s summer breeze.
The building houses the China National Institute for SCO International Exchange and Judicial Cooperation (CNISCO), where SCO countries exchange knowledge and friendship and share a united future together.
“It is crucial for SCO countries to enhance people-to-people contacts, and we have been actively working towards this goal. Awareness about the SCO is the cornerstone of its development,” said Ms Zheng Wei, Secretary-General of the Good-Neighbourliness, Friendship, and Cooperation Commission of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (GNFCC SCO). She is also the Minister-Counsellor of the Department of European-Central Asian Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, China.
Twenty-six journalists from SCO countries listened attentively to the Secretary-General during a roundtable meeting of SCO media delegations. Chinese scholars and experts also participated alongside the media representatives at this event.
“We in the SCO are firmly against sanctions, as they have resulted in the deaths of many children, women, and the elderly,” stated Professor Pan Guang, Senior Researcher at the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences and Chief Expert of CNISCO, speaking distinctly in Mandarin.
Professor Liu Jun, Vice President of the China National Association for International Studies (CNAIS), stated that numerous countries are expressing interest in joining the SCO, predicting its rapid growth. All meeting participants are optimistic about SCO’s promising future.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization, founded on 15 June 2001, in Shanghai, has now celebrated its 23rd anniversary. Initially, it was founded by six nations: Kazakhstan, the People’s Republic of China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Since then, the SCO has expanded to include 26 countries, comprising two observer states and 14 dialogue partners. Myanmar became a dialogue partner in May 2023.
It has been noted that the SCO is actively pursuing four major goals: fostering mutual trust, friendship, and good-neighbourliness among its Member States; promoting effective cooperation across diverse fields including politics, trade, economy, science and technology, culture, education, energy, transport, tourism, and environmental protection; jointly ensuring peace, security, and stability in the region; and advocating for a new democratic, fair, and rational international political and economic order.
At the invitation of the GNFCC, I, as a media representative from Myanmar, joined other SCO country media representatives to observe firsthand the effective operations of the SCO. That encompassed attending events and visiting compelling locations organized by the host.
We started our nine-day program in Shanghai and spent four days there. The main event was a media roundtable meeting on 4 July, where we also visited some of Shanghai’s most renowned businesses.
During our tour, we visited four prominent companies: Lazas Network Technology, China’s second-largest food delivery service provider operating the Ele.me platform; Hozon New Energy Auto Company, known for producing Neta electric vehicles; Yangshan Port, the world’s largest deep-sea port; and concluded our visit at Shanghai Tunnel Engineering, a manufacturer of tunnelling machines.
We departed for Beijing on 4 July, travelling by high-speed train. This was my first inter-province journey by train in China, as all my previous travels involved flying from one province to another. The six-hour train trip provided a wonderful experience. I found train travel to be more comfortable than flying, allowing for more freedom to walk, talk, and move about. The sense of relaxation made this journey particularly memorable.
In Beijing, we witnessed the realization of China’s ambitious dream of a grand transportation hub in their capital. The Comprehensive Transportation Hub, located in the heart of the city, is now 80 per cent complete. Engineers and workers diligently work to meet the project schedule on time. This monumental project is a testament to China’s capabilities and a source of national pride.
The media delegation also had the opportunity to attend and experience a daily national press conference held by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA). The following day, a Saturday, we had the chance to explore and shop at one of Beijing’s renowned shopping malls. We are grateful to the young ladies from the organizer who meticulously arranged the day-to-day programme, ensuring a seamless and enriching experience.
We travelled from Beijing to Qingdao, our final destination, once again via express train. The train ride was remarkably stable and smooth, allowing me to type my story on my MacBook while in transit comfortably.
In the beautiful coastal city of Qingdao, the SCO media group visited Hisense Information Park, the fully automated container terminal at Qingdao Port, and the Haier Sci-Tech and Innovation Ecological Park. These visits preceded our main and most significant event of the entire trip: attending the Green Development Forum of SCO countries.
On the eve of the forum, I had the opportunity to cover the meeting between Myanmar’s visiting Vice-Senior General Soe Win, Vice-Chairman of the State Administration Council and Deputy Prime Minister, and Ms Shen Yueyue, Vice-Chairperson of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and Chairperson of the GNFCC SCO.
They engaged in a candid exchange of views on enhancing the Swemyo Pauk-Phaw relations, grounded in the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. Their discussions focused on promoting cooperation within their partnership and advancing multi-strategic collaboration between the two countries. On 8 July, the Green Development Forum of SCO countries was held at the Qingdao International Conference Centre. The forum was attended by Vice-Senior General Soe Win, Vice-Chairman of the State Administration Council (SAC) and Deputy Prime Minister of Myanmar, along with state representatives and senior officials from SCO member countries.
At the opening ceremony, Ms Shen Yueyue, Vice-Chairperson of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and Chairperson of the GNFCC SCO, read President Xi Jinping’s message and subsequently delivered a speech. State delegates from SCO member countries, observer countries, and dialogue partner countries also gave speeches.
President Xi characterized the SCO as a model for a new type of international relations and regional cooperation. In his message, he noted that China has recently assumed the rotating presidency of the SCO. Xi also emphasized the consensus among SCO countries to protect the environment and promote green development.
Myanmar’s Vice-Senior General Soe Win stated that Myanmar is prioritizing investment in green development to enhance the natural environment and ecosystem. This approach aims to ensure long-term socioeconomic growth through nature-based solutions.
Vice-Senior General Soe Win also emphasized that Myanmar takes pride in becoming an SCO dialogue partner country in 2023. In his speech, he expressed hopes for further strengthening partnership relations and cooperation among member countries.
Ms Shen Yueyue urged SCO countries to promote the “Shanghai Spirit” and foster international cooperation through joint efforts. She emphasized the importance of strengthening collaboration to support societal and economic development in all countries, as well as advancing the development of human and natural resources.
The phrase “Shanghai Spirit” in her speech captured our attention. What exactly is the “Shanghai Spirit”? It embodies mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, consultation, respect for the diversity of civilizations, and the pursuit of common development. Externally, it upholds principles of non-alignment, non-targeting of other countries or regions, and openness.
Its core value lies in promoting peace and prosperity within the region and globally, benefiting all of humanity.
In my view, the SCO represents a significant force in shifting the world from a unipolar to a multi-polar order.
Our trip concluded successfully after the Green Development Forum. Even as the trip came to an end, my reflections continued. Over the nine days, we SCO media representatives grew closer, becoming like old friends. We exchanged contact information, took selfies together, and engaged in heartfelt conversations that lasted for hours.
All the most incredible histories begin with personal interactions.
All successful developments in politics, business, culture, sports, and beyond are built upon trusted and deep friendships.
Heart-to-heart connections form solid foundations for organizations, and our trip exemplifies all of these characteristics.
I believe SCO will contribute to peace and prosperity worldwide, fostering a shared future among humanity by strengthening the foundational interactions among SCO countries.
By nurturing mutual trust, cooperation, and understanding, the SCO lays the groundwork for a brighter future in which nations collaborate towards common goals and shared progress. These efforts not only fortify the organization’s foundation but also make substantial contributions to global stability and harmony.
