SCO to play bigger role
After a 23-day crossing of the Eurasian Continent, it arrived in Hefei in mid- December. This is the first regular train service between Hefei and Hamburg carrying cargo from Europe.
Meanwhile, China is deepening the industrial cooperation — in railway equipment, metal smelting, hydraulic power, cotton processing and creation of industrial parks —with members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Central Asia, an important region in China’s new economic initiative.
Wang Kaiwen, SCO deputy secretary general, said a new pattern of policy development and industrial coordination is now taking shape in the Central Asia region.
The first Xi’an-Moscow Train prepares to set off from Xi’an Xinzhu Railway Station on Dec 6. [Photo/Xinhua]
A report of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences has pointed out that SCO members’ economic growth has slowed because of the overall international economic downturn and the decline of staple commodity prices. Against this background, the Belt and Road project will bring fresh opportunities to these countries to break down bottlenecks in development, and be an entry point for the organization to deepen and expand regional economic cooperation.
Under the Belt and Road framework, it is a common wish and urgent requirement for SCO members to strengthen cross-border infrastructure construction and foster interconnectivity.
Currently, China has three railways to Europe that leave its territory at Khorgos in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, Erenhot in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region and Manzhouli in Heilongjiang province.
According to the Ministry of Commerce, the number of trains between China and Europe increased 1.5-fold in 2016. Customs statistics show overall cargo passing through Manzhouli land port reached 66,300 standard containers from January to November, up 58.41 percent year-on-year, with a total value of US$2.91 billion, up 42.03 percent.
According to a plan for China-Europe train development (2016-20), China will establish 43 regular train routes to Europe. Thus, railway transport among the SCO members will become more convenient.
Industrial capacity cooperation is becoming a pillar and a new growth pole in promoting economic and trade cooperation in Europe and Asia. China proposed to build a SCO industrial capacity cooperation platform in 2015, which was warmly welcomed by other members. China and Kazakhstan have 52 cooperation projects smoothly underway.
A Kazakhstan diplomat to China said industrial capacity cooperation provides powerful support for bilateral cooperation and cooperation within the SCO frame, not only benefiting China, but also creating jobs, improves infrastructure, and boosting economic growth in Kazakhstan.
Chinese Commerce Minister Gao Hucheng said SCO regional cooperation will be led by Belt and Road projects, with stress on facilitation of trade, interconnectivity, industrial capacity cooperation and establishment of a finance and investment system.
The first China-Europe Train from Lianyungang, Jiangsu province, sets off from Lianyungang, on Dec 13, 2015. [File photo]
Experts think the Silk Road Spirit of “interconnectivity, mutual learning, mutual respect and harmonious co-existence” is in line with the Shanghai Spirit, on which the SCO is based--- "mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, negotiation, respect of civilization plurality and seeking common development”. The two mechanisms can further strengthen SCO cohesion and cooperation.
Many SCO observer states and dialogue partners are now willing to take part in the Belt and Road projects, and integrate their own development plans with the Initiative.
Shen Danyang, Commerce Ministry spokesperson, said China proposes an inclusive development concept, which is compatible with national development vision and strategy for effective SCO advancement.
Rashid Olimov, secretary-general of the SCO, told Xinhua News Agency in a recent interview: “Undoubtedly, the SCO members’ integration of their development plans with the Belt and Road Initiative will further consolidate the SCO’s cooperative foundation, expand economic and trade cooperation among members, stimulate new growth points, and bring about a new driving force for regional development against the backdrop of globalization.”
As Russia, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan are all members of Eurasian Economic Union, many experts believe the SCO can serve as a bridge between the Silk Road Economic Belt and the EEU.
China and Russia issued a joint declaration to integrate the Silk Road Economic Belt construction with the EEU, so as to strengthen regional economic integration and ensure stable regional economic growth.
At the 15th SCO Meeting of Council of Heads of Government in Bishkek, capital of Kyrgyzstan in November, the leaders agreed to further strengthen collaboration and cooperation in security, and accelerate the signing of an anti-extremism pact, push forward construction of regional anti-terrorism agencies, strengthen the network of anti-terrorism and drug control cooperation, and help Afghanistan to realize peace and development.
SCO states also vow to step up exchanges and cooperation among their judicial departments, and provide quality legal services for Belt and Road projects.
Built on security and economic cooperation, the organization can play a bigger role in contributing to regional and world peace, stability and prosperity.
