On September 9, 2024, Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong, upon request, introduced at the briefing on China's presidency of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) China's views on the Shanghai Spirit in the new era.

Sun Weidong said that more than 20 years ago, at the very beginning of the establishment of the SCO, member states put forward the Shanghai Spirit featuring "mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, consultation, respect for diversity of civilizations and pursuit of common development". It is under the guidance of the Shanghai Spirit that member states have united in their efforts to gradually grow the SCO into a comprehensive regional organization that covers the largest population and area and embraces huge potential in the world, making the SCO an important force for promoting global peace and development and upholding international justice and fairness.

Sun Weidong stressed that the SCO enjoys strong vitality and momentum of cooperation, primarily attributed to its adherence to the Shanghai Spirit. The Shanghai Spirit is consistent with the purposes of the United Nations Charter and carries forward the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. The Shanghai Spirit, transcending outdated concepts such as clash of civilizations, Cold War and zero-sum mentality, has opened a new page in the history of international relations and gained increasing endorsement of the international community. At present, there has been disorder in many parts of the world with increasing challenges. This calls for joint efforts and mutual support from all parties to address these issues together. In this context, the concept of the Shanghai Spirit has become even more significant today. During its presidency, China will continue to work with other members of the SCO family to stay true to its original mission, hold high the banner of the Shanghai Spirit, constantly consolidate political mutual trust, enhance good-neighborliness and friendship, jointly safeguard regional security, strengthen practical cooperation, and work together to build an even closer SCO community with a shared future.