Syrian Arab News Agency S A N A
New Delhi, SANA- The 23rd meeting of the Council of Heads of State of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) kicked off on Tuesday in the Indian capital, New Delhi, with the participation of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon and President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev.
In a speech during the opening of the summit via videoconference, President Putin affirmed that the SCO is committed to establishing a just and equitable world order with a central role for the United Nations.
Putin called for action to form a multipolar global system based on cooperation in light of the geopolitical contradictions that have become more acute in the world.
Putin noted the start of switching to national currencies in trade exchanges and dispensing with the dominance of dollar.
Russia’s dealings in the ruble with SCO countries exceeded 40 percent of the volume of exchanges, while more than 80 percent of Russia-China trade in ruble and yuan takes place, Putin said.
He pointed out Russia’s support for expanding cooperation in the Shanghai Organization in the fields of economy, security and others.
In turn, Indian Prime Minister stressed the important role of SCO in the world, and said that the organization can become an important factor in reforming global institutions, including the UN.
Modi stated that the SCO countries should take decisive measures to combat terrorism and strengthen cooperation in combating the financing of terrorist activities.
The SCO must face unilateral sanctions and promote equal access to development for all peoples of the world, Chinese President Xi Jinping said in his speech.
“I consider it appropriate to increase the share of settlements in national currencies within the organization,” the Chinese president added.
He stressed the need to resist color revolutions and the interference of external powers in the affairs of the countries of the region, as well as unilateral economic sanctions, hegemony and power politics must be resisted.
The meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is a platform for presenting the common aspirations of the member states and putting forward initiatives.
Nisreen Othman / Mazen Eyon
