The Guardian 28 June, 2006
Blueprint for a new world order
The annual summit meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) held in Shanghai in the middle of June adopted a declaration that sets out the principles that should govern the relations between countries in the future. Once implemented by all major countries they would set the world on a new path and would guarantee peace and economic and social development such as the world has never seen before.
The heads of state of China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Iran, Mongolia, Pakistan and Afghanistan attended the meeting. India was represented by its minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas. Taken together they represent almost half the world’s population and have at their disposal enormous riches in mineral and energy resources, agriculture, technology, manufacturing, heavy industry and military hardware.
Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan, Mongolia and India at present hold observer status but several of these countries have applied to become full members of the SCO.
The media in Australia has almost totally ignored this important summit meeting hoping to keep the Australian people in the dark about it and even the existence of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and its important influence on world affairs.
Respect
China’s President Hu Jintao expressed the hope that the international community could respect the social system and road of development independently chosen by SCO member countries and observer countries, respect their internal and external policies of peace, friendship and cooperation based on their own domestic situation, and create a harmonious and easy environment for their development.
He said the establishment of the SCO was an "historic decision" and that its successful experience can be condensed to one point, that is, to unswervingly advocate and practice mutual trust and benefit, equality, respect for cultural diversity and a desire for common development.
Peace, development and cooperation have become a trend of the current world, but various traditional and untraditional threats to security still interweave. Like other parts of the world, the SCO region maintains basic stability but is faced with "three evil forces" of terrorism, separatism and extremism and the problems of drugs and cross-border crimes. In particular, the region is economically less developed, said Hu.
Declaration
The declaration adopted at the heads-of-state meeting said that "The world and international relations today are going through unprecedented and profound changes. There is an increasing trend towards multi-polarisation and economic globalisation amid twists and turns. The establishment of a new international order in the twenty-first century is a slow and uneven process. Interdependence among countries is growing. The international community faces favourable opportunities for ensuring stability, peace and common development, but is also confronted with complicated traditional and non-traditional security challenges and threats."
United Nations
The SCO took a positive attitude to the United Nations as the universal and the most representative and authoritative international organisation, which is entrusted with primary responsibility in international affairs and is at the core of formulating and implementing the basic norms of international law.
In carrying out Security Council reform, the principles of equitable geographical distribution and seeking the broadest consensus should be observed. No time limit should be set for the reform, nor should a vote be forced on any proposal over which there are major differences. The SCO holds that the next Secretary-General of the United Nations should come from Asia.
Diversity of civilisations and models of development must be respected and upheld. Differences in cultural traditions, political and social systems, values and models of development formed in the course of history should not be taken as pretexts to interfere in other countries’ internal affairs. Models of social development should not be "exported". Differences in civilisations should be respected and exchanges among civilisations should be conducted on an equal basis to draw on each other’s strengths and enhance harmonious development.