The SCO is often badly overestimated when there is talk of an anti-Western alliance, even an anti-NATO. On the one hand it is not a military alliance, on the other hand it is quite heterogeneous, albeit under strong Chinese-Russian influence. This is the title of an article by Raja C. Raja Mohan visiting research professor at the Institute of South Asian Studies, National University of Singapore and a senior fellow at the Asia Society Policy Institute, Delhi. in the Strait Times:

“SCO and the elusive anti-American coalition- Russia and China want to build a united front against the US in Eurasia, but the Shanghai Cooperation Organization is not a credible vehicle for it.(…) That brings us to the final paradox: The origins of the SCO lay in the Sino-Russian effort to limit US power in Eurasia, but Russia’s avoidable confrontation with Europe and China’s premature assertion against the US might end up reinforcing the West globally and within Eurasia itself. The Chinese and Russians do seek to build an anti-American front, but it is unlikely that the SCO will be a credible part of it.”

In addition to the above-mentioned differences and border disputes between the observer states Azerbaijan and Armenia, smaller members, such as between Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan or Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, there are also considerable tensions between India and China and India and Pakistan. Iran has now applied for membership. But that wasn’t worth a big headline in either the Global Times or the Tehran Times. After all, China wants good relations with Iran, Saudi Arabia and Israel, and this balancing act is not easy to achieve, especially given Iran’s expansionist aggression and its nuclear bomb program (see article below), and the Sino-American conflict. Ahead of the SCO summit, a rumor was spread that Xi would meet Saudi Arabia or Putin first, which turned out to be false. Kazakhstan was his first target as it is the most important among Central Asians, but Putin claims it is part of the „Russian world“. The limited Russian intervention during the mass protests in Kazakhstan, which stabilized the country, was welcomed by the new leadership in Kazakhstan, especially since this also took place within the OVSK, but the Kazakhs are skeptical about Russia with the war in Ukraine and that Putin announced that Kazakhstan was part of the “Russian world”. It will be interesting to see whether they also revive the NATO „Partnership for Peace“ programs, especially since Kazakhstan has now joined the US sanctions against Russia, as former Putin adviser Dr. Rahr announced. The fact that Samarkand could become the „Stalingrad“ of Russia, as Rahr feared, and that the Chinese-Russian alliance „is crumbling,“ according to Focus, is probably wrong.

However; that there are problems and conflicts within the SCO doesn´t bother China as it sees the SCO meeting and its Samarkand declaration as full success: First China would have mamaged it to break the encirclement by the West by enlargement with a new circle of friends. Means: The membership of Iran which China wants now also become member of the BRICS. The application by Erdogan for Turkey to become a full member of the SCO. New SCO dialogue partners were recruited:

“At the summit, Iran officially became a full SCO member. China and other SCO members also started the procedure for Belarus‘ accession, granted Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Qatar the status of SCO dialogue partners, and reached agreement on admitting Bahrain, the Maldives, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Myanmar as new dialogue partners

“These new countries joining the SCO have previously established good relations with China in cooperation. With their accession, the concept of „Belt and Road Initiative“ and „a community with a shared future for mankind“ will be spread more widely, Deng noted.”

The SCO also a role model for a new type of international relations and forms of cooperation contrary to the alleged exclusive Western model:

“Observers noted that for countries around the world, the core of SCO’s appeal is that its philosophy is different from and beyond the West – partnership without alliance, cooperation instead of confrontation.

„Whereas Western alliances impose leaders versus followers‘ roles, and require unified values and mandatory obligations to be fulfilled, SCO’s cooperation is an inclusive and open one,“ Deng said.”

All in all from Chinese perspective a meeting that breaks Western encirclement, pushes the Silkroad , strengthens China´s international position. Afghanistan as important transit country for the Silkroad and the support for an Iran deal were also on the top agenda while Russia came to a solution with Erdogan to build a nuclear reactor in Turkey ( maybe Erdogan now also wants to become a nuclear state as Iran wants). Beyond the SCO meeting, the Global Times also published an article about RCEP which will soon start and will create more economic growth among its partcipants which would stabilze and further develop the world economy while IPEF was a empty promise of the USA.

“Xi’s trip to Central Asia ‘breaks US encirclement’ with ‘a circle of friends at SCO’ : Chinese FM Wang Yi

By GT staff reporters Published: Sep 17, 2022 07:20 PM Updated: Sep 18, 2022 10:34 PM

Chinese President Xi Jinping’s trip to Central Asia from Wednesday to Friday is a strategic move to break US‘ „encirclement“ of China by expanding the „circle of friends“ at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO),   demonstrating President Xi’s confidence and influence, while indicating the further strengthening of China’s international status and influence, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said at the end of the trip, noting that this is also the general view of the international public opinion.

Chinese President Xi Jinping (seventh from left, front) and leaders of other Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states, observer states and dialogue partners pose for a photo before the 22nd meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the SCO on September 16, 2022, in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. Photo: Xinhua

President Xi’s attendance of the 22nd meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the SCO and state visits to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan is his first overseas trip since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the tight schedule, there are many highlights and fruitful results, which have strongly pushed the expansion of the SCO and brought China’s relations with relevant countries to a new level, Wang said in a statement released on the website of Chinese foreign ministry.

Wang pointed out that the visit is of great significance. It is a major diplomatic action taken toward Eurasia, and is a landmark and important visit carried out at a key historical point.

President Xi summarized the successful experience of the SCO, namely, adhering to political trust, win-win cooperation, equality between nations, openness and inclusiveness as well as equity and justice, Wang said, noting that it is an important guide to the promotion of healthy and just development of international relations. 

In stark contrast to the spirit of the SCO, the US-led West is trying to build a Cold War-style alliance based on ideological criteria, leading to the wave of counter-globalization and confrontational split that the world is now experiencing, Deng Hao, secretary-general of the China Center for SCO Studies, told the Global Times on Saturday.

The US-led West is now putting extreme pressure on Russia while not reducing its containment of China, Deng said. „The geopolitical stakes are at an unprecedentedly high level. Against this backdrop, the sense of crisis and uncertainty facing the vast majority of developing countries has clearly increased.“

„Countries that have not entered the West’s ’small clique‘ have attached great importance to this visit of President Xi and are eagerly looking forward to his visit,“ Deng said. „This visit is believed to bring confidence and hope to the world.“

„Because they saw China’s development, and are more in agreement with the ideas and propositions put forward by China,“ he said.

At the summit, Iran officially became a full SCO member. China and other SCO members also started the procedure for Belarus‘ accession, granted Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Qatar the status of SCO dialogue partners, and reached agreement on admitting Bahrain, the Maldives, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Myanmar as new dialogue partners.

Wang noted that the new round of the largest expansion of the SCO membership has consolidated its status and influence as the most populous regional cooperation organization with the vastest territory in the world.

This expansion fully demonstrates that the SCO is not a closed and exclusive „small clique,“ but an open and inclusive „big family,“ he added.

The US seems to be doing well with its bloc diplomacy and small cliques, but actually there are only 20 to 30 countries that really follow the US or are included in the clique, Deng explained. 

„But there are more than 200 countries around the world, the vast majority of which do not follow the US and many are fed up with the selfish and self-serving attitude of the superpower.“ 

„More countries have asked to join the SCO as they want to get a sense of stability, security and development, that is, a chance to get out of trouble and achieve revitalization,“ Deng said.

He noted that after absorbing the new members, the SCO now represents nearly half of the world’s population and 60 percent of the Eurasian continent. It also has the conditions and capacity for a greater role in global oil.

These new countries joining the SCO have previously established good relations with China in cooperation. With their accession, the concept of „Belt and Road Initiative“ and „a community with a shared future for mankind“  will be spread more widely, Deng noted.

President Xi’s attendance of the 22nd meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the SCO and state visits to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan is his first overseas trip since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the tight schedule, there are many highlights and fruitful results, which have strongly pushed the expansion of the SCO and brought China’s relations with relevant countries to a new level, Wang said in a statement released on the website of Chinese foreign ministry.

Wang pointed out that the visit is of great significance. It is a major diplomatic action taken toward Eurasia, and is a landmark and important visit carried out at a key historical point.

President Xi summarized the successful experience of the SCO, namely, adhering to political trust, win-win cooperation, equality between nations, openness and inclusiveness as well as equity and justice, Wang said, noting that it is an important guide to the promotion of healthy and just development of international relations. 

In stark contrast to the spirit of the SCO, the US-led West is trying to build a Cold War-style alliance based on ideological criteria, leading to the wave of counter-globalization and confrontational split that the world is now experiencing, Deng Hao, secretary-general of the China Center for SCO Studies, told the Global Times on Saturday.

The US-led West is now putting extreme pressure on Russia while not reducing its containment of China, Deng said. „The geopolitical stakes are at an unprecedentedly high level. Against this backdrop, the sense of crisis and uncertainty facing the vast majority of developing countries has clearly increased.“

„Countries that have not entered the West’s ’small clique‘ have attached great importance to this visit of President Xi and are eagerly looking forward to his visit,“ Deng said. „This visit is believed to bring confidence and hope to the world.“

„Because they saw China’s development, and are more in agreement with the ideas and propositions put forward by China,“ he said.

At the summit, Iran officially became a full SCO member. China and other SCO members also started the procedure for Belarus‘ accession, granted Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Qatar the status of SCO dialogue partners, and reached agreement on admitting Bahrain, the Maldives, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Myanmar as new dialogue partners.

Wang noted that the new round of the largest expansion of the SCO membership has consolidated its status and influence as the most populous regional cooperation organization with the vastest territory in the world.

This expansion fully demonstrates that the SCO is not a closed and exclusive „small clique,“ but an open and inclusive „big family,“ he added.

The US seems to be doing well with its bloc diplomacy and small cliques, but actually there are only 20 to 30 countries that really follow the US or are included in the clique, Deng explained. 

„But there are more than 200 countries around the world, the vast majority of which do not follow the US and many are fed up with the selfish and self-serving attitude of the superpower.“ 

„More countries have asked to join the SCO as they want to get a sense of stability, security and development, that is, a chance to get out of trouble and achieve revitalization,“ Deng said.

He noted that after absorbing the new members, the SCO now represents nearly half of the world’s population and 60 percent of the Eurasian continent. It also has the conditions and capacity for a greater role in global oil.

These new countries joining the SCO have previously established good relations with China in cooperation. With their accession, the concept of „Belt and Road Initiative“ and „a community with a shared future for mankind“  will be spread more widely, Deng noted.

Observers noted that for countries around the world, the core of SCO’s appeal is that its philosophy is different from and beyond the West – partnership without alliance, cooperation instead of confrontation.

„Whereas Western alliances impose leaders versus followers‘ roles, and require unified values and mandatory obligations to be fulfilled, SCO’s cooperation is an inclusive and open one,“ Deng said.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization member states signed an MOU on including Iran as a new member and began the process to admit Belarus as a member. 21 years on, SCO, the world’s largest regional organization in terms of geographic scope and population, keeps growing. Editor: Shi Yue/GT Graphic: Xu Zihe/GT

„This is in line with the trend of the world’s development of the times, and in fact, in line with the actual needs of each region, representing the trend of history,“ Deng said. 

Wang said that in Samarkand, President Xi attended bilateral meetings with 10 leaders participating in the SCO summit. President Xi also attended the meeting of heads of state of China, Russia and Mongolia. The meetings play an important role in guiding the development of bilateral relations and boosting regional peace and stability.

China’s voice, position and philosophy were fully conveyed at the summit and during the bilateral and multilateral meetings of leaders, Deng told the Global Times.

„Many of the initiatives put forward by President Xi were positively received at the summit, as evidenced by the number of joint communiqués in which many leaders responded positively to the ideas put forward by China and expressed their willingness to work together with China to implement them.“

Deng noted that it is clear from this summit that in the context of increasing geopolitical risks, countries are turning to China to maintain their hopes for security and economic development. 

„We should believe that under the leadership of new ideas and propositions like China’s, and with the joint efforts of all countries, our world will not become more and more divided and confrontational,“ he said. „Peaceful development and cooperation are still the mainstream.“

During the meetings, the leaders reiterated that their countries will continue to firmly abide by the one-China principle, firmly support China’s stance on issues concerning its core interests, including those related to Taiwan, Xinjiang and Hong Kong.

The leaders wished the upcoming 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China a full success, expressed full confidence in China’s future development, hoped to comprehensively enhance mutually beneficial cooperation with China, and expected China to play a bigger role in international affairs, Wang said.

https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202209/1275460.shtml

“Turkey’s Erdogan targets joining Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, media reports say

Reuters

ISTANBUL, Sept 17 (Reuters) – President Tayyip Erdogan said he was targeting membership of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) for NATO-member Turkey, broadcaster NTV and other media said on Saturday.

He was speaking to reporters after attending the SCO summit in Uzbekistan before heading to the United States.

„Our relations with these countries will be moved to a much different position with this step,“ Erdogan said.

„When asked if he meant membership of the SCO, he said, „Of course, that’s the target“.

Turkey is currently a dialogue partner of the SCO, whose members are China, Russia, India, Pakistan, Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.

Amid bilateral discussions at the summit, Erdogan had talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Erdogan said Turkey and Russia had reached a deal resolving a dispute over a nuclear power plant being built at Akkuyu in southern Turkey.

NTV reported Erdogan as saying that the Turkish contractor IC Ictas had been reinstated in the project, confirming comments by two sources to Reuters on Friday. read more

Last month, the Russian state nuclear energy company Rosatom, which is running the project, terminated its contract with IC Ictas over what it called „numerous violations“.

„God willing we will be able to finish and inaugurate the first (Akkuyu) unit in 2023,“ Erdogan added.”

https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/turkeys-erdogan-targets-joining-shanghai-cooperation-organisation-media-2022-09-17/

“Iran officially joins SCO

By Saeed Azimi

September 17, 2022 – 21:43

Iran’s full membership in the SCO was announced by the President of Uzbekistan, which was applauded by the participants. China, Russia, India, Iran, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Mongolia, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan attended the 22nd SCO summit.

Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi spoke at the second day of the summit on Friday, stressing that maximum interaction and relation with the countries of the region, including the SCO states. He also said effective presence in regional and international orders are the focus of Iran’s foreign policy.

Uzbekistan, which chaired the SCO for one year, will hand over the SCO presidency to India. India will assume the next SCO rotating presidency and hold the next meeting of the council of heads of state of the SCO in 2023.

During the summit, an agreement was reached on admitting Bahrain, the Maldives, the UAE, Kuwait and Myanmar as new dialogue partners. Relevant parties noticed that MOUs granting Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Qatar the status of SCO dialogue partners had been signed.

Samarkand Declaration, icing on SCO’s cake

The Samarkand Declaration which was signed by all countries participating in the summit underlined that the world today is undergoing global changes and has entered a new period of rapid development and major transformation, with the trend towards a multi-polar world intensifying, countries increasingly interdependent, and informatization and digitalization accelerating. 

“Based on the principles of the Charter of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the member states oppose grouping, and ideological and confrontational approaches to solving international and regional issues, and stick to a coordinated manner to security threats and challenges in traditional and non-traditional fields,” the declaration added.

Considering the views of the SCO member states, the declaration reaffirmed that it is of great practical significance to work together to build a new type of international relations featuring mutual respect, fairness and justice as well as win-win cooperation, and to build a community with a shared future for mankind.

In the declaration, the SCO states also emphasized the continuous implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and within the framework of UN Security Council Resolution 2231.

The SCO members also called on the JCPOA parties to commit to their obligations in line with the comprehensive, full and effective implementation of the JCPOA.

“The member-states stand for respecting the right of the people of all countries to independently choose their own paths of political, economic and social development,” according to the declaration.

The SCO emphasizes continuous implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) within the framework of UN Security Council Resolution 2231.

They also reaffirmed that differences and disputes between countries should be resolved peacefully through dialogue and consultation.

Elsewhere in the declaration, the member-states reiterated their steadfast commitment to combating terrorism, separatism and extremism.

They pointed out that the interference in the internal affairs of other countries under the pretext of combating terrorism and extremism is unacceptable, as well as the use of terrorist, extremist and radical groups for one’s own purposes.

The member states underlined the key role of the United Nations in responding to threats in the information space, calling for creating a safe, fair and open information space on the basis of respect for sovereignty and non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries.

The member states that are signatory to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons are committed to strict compliance with the provisions of the treaty and consolidating the international nuclear non-proliferation regime, according to the declaration. 

The member-states also underlined that the only solution to regional conflicts is through political and diplomatic means “on the basis of adherence to universally recognized principles and norms of international law.”

They noted that the coordination of the situation in Afghanistan at an early date is one of the important factors for maintaining and consolidating security and stability in the SCO region. The SCO reaffirmed support for Afghanistan to become “an independent, neutral, united, democratic and peaceful country, which is free of terrorism, war and drugs.”

Raisi builds regional diplomacy in SCO

During his stay in Uzbekistan, President Raisi met several counterparts and used the SCO platform to build on regional diplomacy, open new windows of economic opportunities for Iran and build a strong regional coalition.

President reiterates Iran’s position on Azerbaijan-Armenia border clashes in meeting with Erdogan

Raisi and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan met on Friday evening on the sidelines of the SCO summit in Samarkand.

While reviewing the agreements made during the recent visit of the Turkish president to Tehran and holding the 7th Supreme Council of Economic Cooperation between the two countries, the two presidents once again emphasized the need to speed up the implementation of these agreements.

During the meeting, the two sides also discussed the developments in the region, including the issues of Syria, Afghanistan, and the developments in the Caucasus region.
Raisi emphasized that Tehran is against “paternalism,” stating, “The basis of our policy in the region is that the future of the countries is determined by them, and their national sovereignty and territorial integrity are respected.”

Citing examples of Iran’s support for friends and neighbors during different crises, the president elucidated that Iran is a friend of its neighbors.

Referring to the developments in the Caucasus region, Raisi explained the strategic policy of Iran is welcoming the freedom of the territory of Karabakh and prepare for its reconstruction, while calling any change in the international, historical and geopolitical borders of the region “unacceptable.”

Putin says Russia-Iran’s ‘positions are close’ 

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday met his Iranian counterpart Raisi on the sidelines of the SCO summit and expressed his happiness about Tehran joining the bloc.

Putin told Raisi that he was happy that Iran was joining the SCO.

“As we agreed with you, we have done everything for Iran to become a full member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. Our partners in this organization have supported your application, all that is left is one last formality. It is indeed a formality, and Iran is joining this already serious, large, and authoritative international organization,” Russia’s state-run TASS news agency quoted Putin as saying.

Putin also stressed that Moscow and Tehran share similar views on many international issues.

He added, “Interregional ties are developing. We actively cooperate on the international arena and on many [points] our positions are close, or, as diplomats say, coincide.”

According to Press TV, Putin also said a delegation of 80 large Russian companies are set to visit Iran next week.

Work on major new Russia-Iran strategic treaty is nearly completed

Putin also hailed growing ties with the Islamic republic, saying “on the bilateral level, cooperation is developing positively.”

He added that work on a major new Russia-Iran treaty on strategic ties was nearly completed and that Moscow would be sending a Russian business delegation to Iran next week to develop commercial ties.

“We are doing everything to make Iran a full member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization,” Putin added, in reference to Tehran’s application for full membership in the group, which brings together China, Russia, India, Pakistan and four former Soviet Central Asian countries.

Raisi says cooperation among sanctioned states make them stronger
 
President Raisi also told Putin that cooperation among countries sanctioned by the United States will make them “stronger”.

“The relationship between countries that are sanctioned by the U.S., such as Iran, Russia or other countries, can overcome many problems and issues and make them stronger,” Raisi said.

“The Americans think whichever country they impose sanctions on, it will be stopped, their perception is a wrong one,” Raisi remarked, according to citizen.co.za.

The president said Tehran is “seriously determined to develop bilateral strategic relations” with Russia in the fields of politics, economy, trade, and aerospace.

It was the second meeting between Raisi and Putin in two months, after the Russian president’s visit to Tehran on July 19.

The Iranian president said his country’s membership in the SCO and its relationship with member states “can greatly help on the path of economic development for Iran and the development of the region.”

Xi calls ties with Iran strategic, backs Iran’s membership in BRICS

The Chinese president on Friday praised Iran’s independent position toward international developments and called the relations between Beijing and Tehran “strategic”.

“The relations of Iran and China is strategic and will develop irrespective of any international event,” Xi Jinping said in a meeting with Raisi.

Xi also pointed to Iran’s important position in the region and the larger world and said, “China supports the membership of Iran in BRICS.”

BRICS is the acronym coined to associate five major emerging economies: Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. 

Xi also invited Raisi to visit China.

The presidents of Iran and China also held talks on promoting economic cooperation and made decisions in this regard.

Raisi also lauded China’s constructive approach in the process of Iran’s membership in the SCO and thanked Beijing for backing Iran to join BRICS.

Raisi also said despite all hostilities by certain countries Iran’s move toward progress “has never” and “will never” been stopped and that the Islamic Republic will continue its path toward economic development.

Raisi also said the comprehensive strategic partnership between Iran and China shows that the two countries are firm to develop ties in all areas.

Existing potentials in the fields of oil and energy, transit, agriculture, commerce, and investment have created a very good situation for deepening economic ties between Iran and China, Raisi stated.

The president also criticized the U.S. and the European troika (Britain, France and Germany) for failing to honor their commitments in efforts to revive the 2015 nuclear deal.
Raisi added, “Iran will never back down in the face of U.S. blackmailing.”

Raisi says Iran sees no limit in ties with Pakistan 

In his talks with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday, Raisi also said Tehran sees no limit to develop relations with Islamabad.

„Iran does not consider any limit for developing relations with Pakistan,“ Raisi noted, highlighting the importance of relations between the two neighboring countries.
Raisi once again offered his condolences to the Pakistani government and nation over the deadly massive floods that struck large swathes of the southeast Asian country, and wished patience and health for bereaved families.

The two sides also welcomed cooperation in the field of energy and emphasized the need to remove the obstacles in implementing the projects for the purpose.

The leaders of Iran and Pakistan agreed to form a committee consisting of relevant officials of the two countries to follow up and implement the plans, according to the president.ir.

Modi says India and Iran share views on Afghanistan 

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also called for closer interaction with Iran on issues relating to Afghanistan.

In his meeting with Raisi on Friday, Modi said his country and Iran share views about the developments in Afghanistan.

He also called for the continuation of regional and international cooperation between New Delhi and Tehran in regard to Afghanistan.

Modi also expressed India’s opposition to the imposition of unilateral sanctions on other countries.

For his part, Raisi said one of Iran’s top foreign policy priorities is to expand relations with India.

Hailing the cordial ties, Raisi said the two countries can promote cooperation in various fields, employ the capacities available in the oil and gas industries, and work in the transportation sector, especially in the Chabahar-Central Asia transit route.

Pointing to Iran’s advances in science and industry, Raisi said the cruel sanctions have failed to obstruct the Iranian nation’s progress.

Tokayev pushes for completion of corridor linking Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Iran

In his meeting with Raisi on Friday, Kazak President of Kassym-Jomart Tokayev also called for rapid completion of a corridor linking his country to Iran via Turkmenistan.

Highlighted the achievements of his recent visit to Iran in June, Tokayev stressed the need to equalize the customs and transportation tariffs among the three countries.

Facilities have been created for the travel of Iranian businesspersons to Kazakhstan, Tokayev stated, adding, „Efforts should be made to increase the existing logistics and transportation capacities.“

Tokayev also invited Raisi to attend the upcoming CICA meeting in Kazakhstan.

Raisi, for his part, said Iran is determined to implement the agreements made during the Kazakh president’s visit to Tehran.

He also expressed hope that the relations between Tehran and Astana would lead to regional and international agreements as well.

Iranian, Belarusian presidents hold talks 

Prior to the meeting of the SCO heads of state council, Raisi also held a meeting with Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko.

At the meeting, Lukashenko said, „We need to stick together in order not just to survive but to take our place under the sun,“ according to BelTA.

Lukashenko also called on the two countries’ foreign ministries to intensify cooperation and to take stock of the relations.

Raisi says Iran ready to share knowledge with Kyrgyzstan

In a meeting with his Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov on Thursday, Raisi also highlighted Iran’s considerable scientific and technological progress, saying, “Iran is prepared to exchange its experiences and achievements to let Kyrgyzstan enjoy such major achievements.” 

He also stressed the need to greatly increase economic ties between Tehran and Bishkek.

Iran and Kyrgyzstan can promote regional cooperation in partnership with Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan, he stated.

For his part, Japarov said cementing ties with Iran is on the agenda of Bishkek’s foreign policy.

Expressing gratitude to Iran for assisting Kyrgyzstan in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic, he highlighted the significance of cooperation between the two nations in the transportation industry. He also described completion of a strategic railroad connecting Iran’s southern port city of Bandar Abbas to Central Asia as a leading factor in the enhancement of cooperation among Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan.

SCO chief: Iran relying on broad civilizational affinities with regional states 

In a meeting with President Raisi on Thursday, SCO Secretary General Zhang Ming hailed Iran as a great and influential country that can play a significant role in regional and international security.

Describing Iran as an influential country in the region that maintains close political and trade ties with the SCO, Zhang said Iran relies on its broad historical and civilizational affinities with the regional countries.

Pointing to the arrangements made by the SCO secretariat for Iran’s membership in the SCO, the Chinese diplomat said he and Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian signed the memorandum of commitments allowing Iran to join the organization.

According to the memorandum, which includes 40 documents, Iran will attend the next year’s summit of the SCO as a full member, said.

For his part, Raisi explicated Iran’s extensive capacities in political, economic, technological and transportation fields.

The Iranian president also expressed the Islamic Republic’s readiness for close cooperation with the SCO member states in various arenas.

By signing its first memorandum of obligations, Iran’s accession to the full membership of the organization will be finalized by April 2023.

Raisi calls for unity among Muslims

President Raisi also attended a mosque in Samarkand on Thursday night, during which he addressed the worshipers on the unity among Muslims, Tasnim reported.

Before participating at the SCO summit, the president told the worshipers that Muslims should follow Ahlul-Bayt who were symbols of unity in Islamic culture.

He also emphasized the shared cultural heritage and Iran and Kazakhstan’s view toward the world, saying that the two nations intended to develop ties.”

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/476818/Iran-officially-joins-SCO

“Full ratification of RCEP expected in near future as mega trade deal manifests as linchpin for global growth

Trade bloc to play role as a global growth stabilizer, in contrast to ‚empty‘ IPEF

By GT staff reporters Published: Sep 18, 2022 11:58 PM

 The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), which has come into force for the majority of its 15 member countries, is expected to be fully ratified in the near future, trade body leaders disclosed during the ongoing China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO), the first edition of the annual event since the RCEP was implemented.

RCEP Photo: Xinhua

More than eight months into the implementation of the mega deal, its members, notably China, have strived for a galaxy of businesses in the Asia-Pacific region to tap into RCEP-enabled opportunities, according to key takeaways from the CAEXPO in Nanning, capital of South China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, where government officials and trade experts alike urged more efforts to familiarize businesses with RCEP rules.

On that premise, the world’s largest trading bloc is already evidently shining in a faltering global economy, CAEXPO participants stressed, citing figures that reveal the huge deal as a pronounced silver lining amid unsettling global growth outlooks, the ongoing pandemic and geopolitical strains.

The trade pact’s notable progress and its vast untapped potential are considered proof of the RCEP’s role as a global growth stabilizer, especially when compared with new economic initiatives such as Washington-launched Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) that seem to be politically motivated empty shells, trade experts said.

RCEP gains steam  

The colossal trade deal is expected to make significant headway in the foreseeable future, according to attendees of the annual trade fair. It is hoped the RCEP will enable brisker trade growth and closer economic ties among its member countries, they said. 

In virtual remarks to a special dialogue on RCEP business cooperation during the CAEXPO on Saturday, Airlangga Hartarto, Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, said that Indonesia ratified the RCEP on August 30 and will implement it in due time. 

That suggests the Philippines is the only RCEP member that has yet to ratify its membership.  

The trade pact, encompassing roughly one-third of the world’s GDP, came into force for 10 countries including China on January 1. It took effect for South Korea on February 1 and for Malaysia on March 18. According to Chinese customs, the deal was also effective for Myanmar on May 1.

„So far as I know, the Philippines is supposed to soon complete its domestic approval procedures. I believe that the RCEP is set to embrace [its] implementation ‚family photographing‘ in the near future, a day worth celebrating,“ Zhang Shaogang, vice chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), told the same CAEXPO sub-event. 

It is looking very promising that the RCEP will be fully ratified by all its members by the end of the year, Xu Ninging, executive president of the China-ASEAN Business Council, said in an interview with the Global Times during the CAEXPO.

Xu, also chairman of the RCEP Industry Cooperation Committee, recently had a meeting with the Philippine trade and industry department where the Southeast Asian country authorities pledged to push its parliament to ratify the RCEP as soon as possible. 

A report on the ASEAN business environment was unveiled during the annual expo on Saturday, which said that individual ASEAN members have not completed the RCEP domestic approval process, resulting in high market access barriers. 

The deal’s anticipated final ratification is expected to encourage more businesses in the trading bloc into jumping on the RCEP bandwagon.

China is spearheading regional efforts to render the RCEP a readily available free trade apparatus for domestic businesses.

In the first eight months, the CCPIT has directly hosted and indirectly offered guidance on hundreds of training sessions tailored for deal implementation, according to Zhang.

The training sessions are part of the trade body’s endeavor to address businesses‘ concerns over how to benefit from RCEP rules, he said, citing confusion about the RCEP’s cumulative rules of origin as one of the major perplexities confronting the business community.

The rules, billed as the biggest gain under the RCEP framework, allows inputs from the bloc to be counted as local when produced in a RCEP member, thereby harmonizing the rules of origin and lowering trade costs.

In an attempt to genuinely translate RCEP rules into commercial benefits endowed to a multitude of firms, the CCPIT has plans to arrange more specific training sessions for traders to capitalize on industry-tailored preferential tax rates under the deal, Zhang revealed.

It is imperative to educate traders on RCEP rules and their application, Xu told the Global Times, speaking of the untapped potential of pressing ahead with the deal implementation.

National-level industry bodies and associations ought to come up with action plans to supervise businesses‘ alignment of their operations and strategies with the deal, he advised, voicing optimism that China is better placed to implement the RCEP than other members.

He cited the country’s effective epidemic containment that paves the way for its deal implementation while other members still struggle with the still-raging pandemic. 

Additionally, the country’s institutional advantages warrant efficient implementation, he continued, noting that China’s success in acquainting its business community with WTO rules over the years heralds the RCEP’s effective implementation on a wider scale in years to come.

In the case of South Korea, Ko Beomseo, chief representative of the Chengdu Representative Office of the Korea International Trade Association (KITA), revealed during the CAEXPO that there are 18 application centers within South Korea and nine such centers outside the country where businesses can get consulting services on free trade agreements and the RCEP in particular.

The RCEP will come into effect on Jan 1, 2022, marking the formation of the world’s largest free trade zone in terms of trade volume. The agreement will come into effect in the first batch of 10 countries – six ASEAN members and China, Japan, New Zealand and Australia. Graphic: Xu Zihe/GT

Linchpin for global growth 

Broad-based efforts to ramp up the deal implementation are seen as offering a much-needed dose of reassurance amid woes over lackluster growth globally. 

„All countries now have to get their economies back on their feet and [the] RCEP focuses on two things, which [are] to reduce tariffs, as well as to facilitate trade. It has a very important role to play,“ Malaysian Ambassador to China Raja Dato‘ Nushirwan Zainal Abidin told the Global Times on the sidelines of the expo over the weekend. 

Studies by ASEAN show that Malaysia is likely to benefit the most from the RCEP and the benefit is likely to hit $200 million, the ambassador said. 

A fresh example of RCEP-enabled opportunities was the signing of a $326 million project during the CAEXPO over the weekend – the Malaysia-China Kuantan International Logistics Park.

Malaysia’s economy expanded by 8.9 percent in the second quarter, official data showed, beating market estimates.

Other fast-growing economies in the region include Vietnam which recorded 7.7 percent in second-quarter GDP growth, and the Philippines whose economy grew by 7.4 percent during the second quarter. 

In the words of Xu, the RCEP bloc is arguably the brightest spot across the globe in terms of economic growth and multinationals would surely look to the region for business opportunities along with the deal’s full ratification.

In a sign that RCEP-induced gains that bucked the overall downward spiral, particularly in the US and Europe where local growth is being threatened by soaring inflation and energy crises, China’s imports and exports with other RCEP countries soared 18.8 percent in yuan terms in July alone, driving overall trade growth by 5.6 percentage points, per Chinese customs data.

This year’s CAEXPO also bears witness to the RCEP’s trade clout. Twenty investment projects involving RCEP members were signed at the expo where a total of 267 projects  were inked with investments amounting to 413 billion yuan ($59.14 billion), an increase of 37 percent from the year before and an all-time high on the expo’s record, the CAEXPO’s secretariat revealed on Friday.

The tangible benefits attest to the mega deal’s role as ballast to lead global growth, setting it apart from other so-called RCEP rivals, observers emphasized. One of the alleged lookalikes is the 14-member IPEF, only launched in May, whose membership partially overlaps with that of the RCEP.

The IPEF is essentially the economic component of the US‘ Indo-Pacific strategy and the politically motivated framework is more paying lip service that guarantees no substantial benefits, Xu remarked, arguing against shockwaves through the RCEP in the wake of the IPEF’s announcement”

https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202209/1275541.shtml