Speech by the President of Russia at the SCO Plus meeting

Vladimir Putin: Dear President Xi Jinping, Dear colleagues!

I would like to warmly welcome all participants of the SCO Plus meeting. This is not the first time we have met in such a broad format, bringing together the heads of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization member states, leaders of observer countries and SCO dialogue partners, guests of the chairmanship, as well as heads of leading international organizations.

This clearly demonstrates that the sincere interest and attention to the multifaceted activities of the SCO on the part of the international community continues to grow, and more and more states are striving for an open and equal dialogue with our organization.

Along with ten full members, two observer countries – Mongolia and Afghanistan – and 15 dialogue partners are involved in the orbit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the President of Laos, Thonglong Sisoulit, on the fact that today, by a unanimous decision of the Council of Heads of State [of the SCO], his country also received partner status.

Applications from more than a dozen more states to join cooperation with the SCO as an observer or dialogue partner are under consideration. Each of these applications certainly deserves the most attentive and friendly treatment. The main thing is that all those who want to establish cooperation with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization share its values and ideals, are committed to pursuing an independent policy and jointly seeking solutions to pressing problems.

Since its establishment in 2001, the SCO has been actively involved in efforts to create an atmosphere of peace and security, trust and cooperation on our common Eurasian continent. In this regard, we have certainly listened attentively to everything that is proposed by Mr. Xi Jinping to create a new, more effective and functional global governance system. This is relevant in an environment where some countries still do not give up their desire to dictate in international affairs.

Russia supports President Xi Jinping’s initiative and is interested in starting a concrete discussion of the proposals made by our Chinese friends.

It seems that the SCO could take on a leading role in efforts to create a more just and equitable global governance system in the world, which would be based on the primacy of international law and the key provisions of the UN Charter, would be truly balanced and would take into account the interests of the widest possible range of countries, would guarantee opportunities for their sustainable development and security.

Trade, economic, investment and financial cooperation is also vigorously promoted within the SCO. It is significant that, against the background of continuing difficulties in the global economy, the total GDP of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization states increased by more than five percent on average in 2024. This is above global values. Industrial production increased by 4.6 percent. Cooperation is deepening in the fields of energy, finance, agriculture and food security, infrastructure, high technology, innovation and transport.

It is equally important that the members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization traditionally respect historical, cultural values and civilizational diversity. It is on this basis that people-to-people contacts are deepening, and cooperation is being built in the fields of science and education, healthcare, and sports.

I would like to take this opportunity to mention that the international television popular song contest “Intervision” will be held in Moscow on September 20. This large-scale project is aimed at promoting universal cultural and spiritual values. The competition has already aroused great interest, with artists from many countries confirming their participation, including those represented at today’s meeting. Otherwise, these traditional values are already fading into the background from the international agenda. It’s time to put them back on the international agenda.

We also invite the delegations of all your countries to the St. Petersburg International Forum of United Cultures, which starts next week, and to the Russia – Sports Power Forum, which will be held in November in Russia, in the city of Samara.

The current meeting will undoubtedly be useful and will contribute to strengthening friendly relations between all the States represented here, and will serve to actualize broad cooperation in a variety of areas.

Thank you for your attention.