On September 9, 2024, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs held a briefing on China's rotating presidency of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong briefed the diplomatic envoys of SCO countries in China and Chinese and foreign media on relevant information.

Sun Weidong said that China has now assumed the rotating presidency of the SCO for 2024-2025, and will host the 25th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the SCO in China. The SCO is the first international organization with China as a founding member state and named after a Chinese city. Since its establishment in 2001, it has followed the Shanghai Spirit, blazed a fruitful path of peaceful development, and set an example for building a new type of international relations.

Sun Weidong pointed out that China, a founding member of the SCO, has always taken the SCO as a diplomatic priority. China will take the opportunity of assuming the rotating presidency and work with SCO countries to keep in mind the original mission, stay in unity and coordination, implement the three major global initiatives, and make positive contributions to lasting peace and common prosperity of the world. Next year's SCO summit is the most important event within the framework of the SCO and the most core event during China's presidency. China will host a friendly, united and fruitful SCO summit to build consensus and draw a blueprint for development.

Sun Weidong introduced China's proposals regarding the work related to the presidency.

First, focus on one theme, i.e. the "SCO Year of Sustainable Development". China will carry out a series of cooperation initiatives and actions in the eight key areas of the Global Development Initiative put forward by President Xi Jinping, including poverty reduction, food security, public health, financing for development, climate change and green development, industrialization, digital economy and connectivity.

Second, formulate two important documents. In other words, in commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, as well as the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations, a summit declaration will be issued, expressing the unified stance of the member states on major international and regional issues. Based on the consensus and aspirations of member states for practical cooperation, the development strategy for the next phase of the SCO will be formulated.

Third, promote one slogan through concrete actions, i.e. "Carrying forward the Shanghai Spirit: SCO in Action." China will make "action" the keyword of its presidency and will host over 100 meetings and events within the SCO framework. Through concrete actions, China aims to further deepen practical cooperation across various fields, consolidate political mutual trust, safeguard common security, promote shared prosperity, strengthen people-to-people exchanges, and enhance the effectiveness of the SCO mechanism.

Sun Weidong also answered journalists' questions on carrying forward the Shanghai Spirit and high-quality Belt and Road cooperation.