Li Keqiang Chairs the 21st Meeting of the Council of Heads of Government of Member States of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization

On the afternoon of November 1, 2022, Premier Li Keqiang chaired the 21st Meeting of the Council of Heads of Government of Member States of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) at the Great Hall of the People. Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov of Kazakhstan, Prime Minister Akylbek Japarov of Kyrgyzstan, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin of Russia, Prime Minister Kokhir Rasulzoda of Tajikistan, Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov of Uzbekistan, foreign ministers of Pakistan and India, and representatives from observer states, among others, were present. The meeting was held via video link.

Li Keqiang expressed in his speech that over the past 21 years since its establishment, the SCO has made important contributions to peace and stability in the region and to the development and prosperity of all SCO countries. At the meeting of the Council of Heads of State held in Samarkand last September, the related parties reached new common understandings on the development of the SCO. President Xi Jinping called for joint efforts to build our region into a peaceful, stable, prosperous and beautiful home. The regional and global landscapes are undergoing profound and complex changes. The global growth is weak while destabilizing factors and uncertainties are interwoven. Nonetheless, upholding peace and pursuing development remain the trend of our times and the people's aspirations. China is committed to deepening political trust, win-win cooperation and friendly exchanges with members of the SCO family, championing the Shanghai Spirit to jointly deliver greater benefits to the people of all member countries.

Li Keqiang put forward five proposals on advancing SCO cooperation:

First, to safeguard security and stability for a sound development environment. China is ready to deepen law enforcement and security cooperation with all parties so as to safeguard the economic and social development of all SCO countries. Second, to expand trade and investment to bolster regional economic recovery. Jointly uphold the WTO-centered multilateral trading system, promote an open world economy, and enhance trade and investment facilitation. Third, to enhance connectivity to realize integrated development of the region. Seek greater synergy among development strategies, improve the efficiency of port clearance, and preserve the resilience and stability of regional industrial and supply chains. Fourth, to promote sustainable development to build up resilience against risks. To enhance food and energy supply of regional countries, and to pursue a balanced and orderly transition to green and low-carbon development. Fifth, to enhance people-to-people and cultural exchanges to strengthen the bond between the people. To give full play to the cooperation mechanisms on education, culture, science, technology and press, and ensure the success of the SCO Year of Tourism next year.

While briefing on China's economic situation, Li Keqiang said that confronted with complex and intricate factors at home and abroad, the Chinese economy once came under downward pressures beyond expectation, with a notable decline early in the second quarter. We made a swift and resolute response, introducing a policy package for stabilizing the economy and follow-up measures. We focused our efforts on helping market entities stay afloat and keeping employment and prices stable, and relied on reform to better unlock market vitality and social creativity. Through these efforts, the Chinese economy reversed the downward trend in time. It registered a positive growth in the second quarter and expanded by 3.9 percent in the third quarter, showing a stabilizing and upward momentum. Going forward, we will take strong measures to promote the steady, sound and sustainable growth of the economy. China has 160 million plus market entities, and a hardworking and intelligent people. This is the greatest source of resilience and confidence for our economic development. We will continue to work for the full delivery of all the policy measures introduced for stabilizing the economy, work to maximize their effects, keep major economic indicators within the appropriate range, and strive for better results.

Li Keqiang pointed out that at the recent 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), strategic plans were laid out for building a modern socialist country in all respects and advancing China's rejuvenation on all fronts. China will stay committed to the basic state policy of reform and opening-up and the win-win strategy of opening-up. China's door will open still wider. We will continue on the path of peaceful development, take an active part in the reform and development of the global governance system, and work with all parties to advance world peace, stability, development and prosperity.

All parties at the meeting spoke highly of the important achievements of SCO cooperation in various fields. They expressed that the SCO has become an effective platform for international cooperation and plays an increasingly important role in maintaining mutual trust among member states, advancing the development of member states and promoting regional peace and security. All parties expressed readiness to further tap the potential of cooperation, improve cooperation mechanisms, and strengthen cooperation in economy and trade, investment, innovation, environmental protection, agriculture, people-to-people and cultural exchanges, connectivity, digital economy and other fields. All parties noted that they will uphold multilateralism, jointly address challenges such as food and energy security and climate change, strive to improve the well-being of people of all SCO countries, and promote stability and prosperity in the region and the world.

A joint communiqué was issued and a number of cooperation documents and resolutions in economy and trade, digital economy and other fields were adopted at the meeting.

Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and Director of the National Development and Reform Commission He Lifeng and others were present at the meeting.