Promoting the Development of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization with Higher Level China Arab Relations (Ambassador's Essays: Promoting the Shanghai Spirit: The Shanghai Cooperation Organization in Action)

Recently, President Xi Jinping collectively met with the heads of foreign delegations of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, fully affirming the solid steps taken by all parties to jointly build a beautiful home for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. He emphasized that in the face of the turbulent and intertwined international situation, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization should have a clear direction, firm confidence, efficient actions, and more achievements, injecting more stability and positive energy into the world.  

China and the United Arab Emirates are both important members of the global South and have always been committed to promoting the unity and revitalization of the global South. As a dialogue partner of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the United Arab Emirates actively participates in the organization's construction and is an activist in promoting the "Shanghai Spirit". At the beginning of becoming a dialogue partner of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Abdullah expressed that the UAE is willing to build bridges for deepening cooperation among Shanghai Cooperation Organization countries and achieving common goals. Not long ago, the first Global Southern Economic Forum co hosted by China and Arab countries was successfully held in Abu Dhabi. The attending representatives highly praised the important role of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and focused on continuing to make good use of mechanisms such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the BRICS countries, jointly promoting global solidarity and cooperation in the South, and contributing wisdom.

The United Arab Emirates is one of the Middle East countries that have carried out the most extensive, profound and fruitful practical cooperation with China. The two countries jointly build the "the Belt and Road" cooperation with high quality in a wide range of areas, and have repeatedly set the first place in the region and the world. This year, China has carried out a series of activities in the eight key areas of the Global Development Initiative around the theme of "Shanghai Cooperation Organization Year of Sustainable Development". Both China and Arab countries will deepen and expand practical cooperation in various fields on the basis of existing good cooperation, further benefiting the two countries and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization family.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization practices true multilateralism, firmly opposes hegemony, hegemony, and bullying, advocates following the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter, adheres to consultation, co construction, and sharing, and provides a new platform and model for multilateral cooperation to improve global governance. The United Arab Emirates advocates multilateralism and has actively played a role in hot issues such as the Gaza conflict, the Ukraine crisis, and the Iran nuclear negotiations in recent years. Faced with the accelerated evolution of the century old changes and the continuous escalation of geopolitical conflicts, China and the United Arab Emirates will continue to strengthen communication and coordination within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, practice multilateralism, improve global governance, and maintain international order through practical actions, and strive to build a China Arab community with a shared future and a community with a shared future for mankind.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization Tianjin Summit will be held from August 31 to September 1 this year, which is another important milestone in the development of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. At a new starting point, China will continue to work with the United Arab Emirates to implement the slogan of "promoting the 'Shanghai Spirit': the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in action", and promote the Shanghai Cooperation Organization to enter a new stage of high-quality development that is more united, collaborative, dynamic, and productive with a higher level of cooperation between China and the UAE. We will provide a "SCO solution" for global governance and contribute "SCO strength" to building a community with a shared future for mankind.

(The author is Zhang Yiming, Chinese Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates)

People's Daily (July 29, 2025, Issue 03)