Interview: The attractiveness of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization is constantly increasing - Interview with Saudi Arabia's international expert Ahmad Ibrahim for cooperation | Saudi Arabia | International
Riyadh, July 5th (Xinhua) - Interview: The attractiveness of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization is constantly increasing - Interview with Saudi Arabia's international expert Ahmad Ibrahim
Xinhua News Agency reporter Hu Guan
The 23rd meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization was held on the 4th. Saudi Arabian international expert Ahmad Ibrahim recently stated in an interview with Xinhua News Agency that an increasing number of countries are showing strong interest in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, which sends an important signal that its attractiveness is constantly increasing.
At the Samarkand Summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization held in September 2022, Saudi Arabia became a dialogue partner of the organization.
Ahmad pointed out that the enhanced attractiveness of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization stems from its establishment of a new model of international relations that emphasizes mutual respect, fairness and justice, and win-win cooperation. Over the past 20 years since its establishment, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization has developed into one of the most influential international organizations, providing important guarantees for strengthening regional peace, security, and stability. As a founding member of the SCO, China's initiative to jointly build the "the Belt and Road" has effectively promoted the deepening of economic and trade cooperation among SCO member countries and enhanced political mutual trust. The sustained development of the Chinese economy has provided cooperation and development opportunities for the member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and has continuously injected momentum into the development of the entire region.
Ahmad said that Saudi Arabia's becoming a dialogue partner of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization fully demonstrates Saudi Arabia's recognition of the increasingly elevated international status and increasing international influence of the organization. At the same time, it also indicates that Saudi Arabia looks forward to further deepening cooperation with SCO member countries, including China, in various fields, especially in the economic and trade field.
When it comes to economic and trade cooperation between Saudi Arabia and China, Ahmad said, "China is Saudi Arabia's largest trading partner, with bilateral trade volume reaching over 116 billion US dollars in 2022. The cooperation between the two sides covers a wide range of fields, including energy, electromechanical, steel, infrastructure, manufacturing, and many other industries, with a good development momentum." In his view, the continuous deepening of cooperation between Saudi Arabia and China in various fields is an important factor in promoting Saudi Arabia to accelerate its "look east" pace and become a dialogue partner of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
Looking ahead to the future, Ahmad said that the Shanghai Cooperation Organization has achieved remarkable results since its establishment, and its adherence to the "Shanghai spirit" has been widely recognized. With the participation of more countries, including Saudi Arabia, in the future, he believes that the Shanghai Cooperation Organization will continue to develop and benefit more countries.