LEADING SCO DEVELOPMENT

Amid complex and changing international and regional situations, the SCO has entered a critical phase of development, with more opportunities than challenges lying ahead, the Chinese foreign minister said.

In his speech addressing the summit on Friday, President Xi expected a new stride forward for the development of the SCO.

Xi suggested the member states uphold the "Shanghai Spirit", boost regional security with stronger execution, explore potentials for the BRICS interaction and enrich content for their cooperation, strengthen their generation-long friendship, and maintain openness and mutual learning within the bloc.

President Xi's proposals point out a direction for the development of the SCO in the next stage, Wang said.

At the summit, leaders of the member states approved the SCO Development Strategy until 2025, which sets detailed targets and tasks for the bloc's development in the next 10 years.

The SCO nations also ratified a resolution on starting the procedures of granting India and Pakistan full membership of the organization and elevated Belarus to the status of observer from dialogue partner, and took in Azerbaijan, Armenia, Cambodia and Nepal as new dialogue partners.

The expansion is conducive to the representativeness and international standing of the organization, Wang said, stressing a dynamic and growing SCO will surely contribute more to regional peace and stability.