CHINA-LEADERSHIP: CHINESE PRESIDENT XI JINPING ADDRESSES SCO MEETING OF COUNCIL OF HEADS OF STATE
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The state-run CCTV (September 17) reported Xi Jinping's speech at the 21st meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in Beijing on September 17. He urged the member states to strengthen coordination to promote a smooth transition of the situation in Afghanistan and truly embark on the path of peace, stability and development. He also asked them to promote the in-depth integration of the "Belt and Road" initiative with the development strategies of various countries and regional cooperation initiatives such as the Eurasian Economic Union, maintain the stability and smooth flow of the industrial chain and supply chain, and promote economic integration, development linkage, and sharing of results among countries. He said China will provide 1,000 poverty alleviation training places to Shanghai Cooperation Organization countries, build 10 Luban workshops, and carry out 30 cooperation projects in the fields of health, poverty alleviation, culture and education within the framework of the "Silk Road One Family" initiative . China will host the organization’s youth science and technology innovation forum next year. CCTV said the meeting initiated the process of accepting Iran as a member state, and absorbed Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Qatar as new dialogue partners. The meeting decided that Uzbekistan would take over as the rotating chairman of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. Ding Xuexiang, Yang Jiechi, He Lifeng and others attended the meeting.
Xi Jinping also attended the Joint Summit on Afghanistan among the leaders of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the Collective Security Treaty Organization in Beijing on September 17 and delivered an 'important' speech. Pointing out that the situation in Afghanistan has undergone fundamental changes recently, which have had an important impact on the international situation, regional structure, and security and stability, he asked SCO member states and the Collective Security Treaty Organization to work together at such critical moments to maintain peace and stability. He said it is important to promote the smooth transition of the situation in Afghanistan as soon as possible and support all parties in Afghanistan to reach an inclusive political arrangement at an early date through dialogue and consultation; it is necessary to pay attention to the trends of terrorist organizations in Afghanistan, and urge relevant parties in Afghanistan to carry out resolute strikes and prevent the terrorist forces holding Afghanistan from causing disaster to the Quartet.
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