President Xi Jinping addresses the 20th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization via video link from Beijing on Nov 10, 2020. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

President Xi Jinping's speech at the 20th Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization on Tuesday helps chart a course for the next phase of the group's development and won positive feedback from various parties, a senior diplomat said.

Xi's speech made via video has put forward a "China plan" for promoting the organization's moves, Vice-Foreign Minister Le Yucheng said in a news briefing on Wednesday.

The speech further enriched the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind, Le said, adding that the president, for the first time, proposed the major initiative of building a community of health, a community of security, a community of development and a community of cultures within the SCO framework.

Xi and fellow leaders exchanged views on priority tasks for further strengthening SCO cooperation amid the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as major international and regional issues

At the gathering, Xi and fellow leaders exchanged views on priority tasks for further strengthening SCO cooperation amid the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as major international and regional issues.

Leaders discussed new ideas and measures to jointly address risks and challenges and to promote security and development, reaching consensus, planning cooperation in detail and providing a clear direction for the SCO's growth in the next phase, which Le said will exert "key, positive influence on regional and world peace and development".

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Le said leaders at the summit congratulated China on its major strategic results in the fight against the pandemic and thanked the country for its strong support to countries in the virus fight.

Leaders said that China taking the lead in resuming domestic production and regular operations provides a key impetus for regional and global economic recovery, and they spoke highly of a range of cooperation initiatives China has put forward, he said.

Based on China's proposal, the summit issued a special statement on dealing with the pandemic.

The statement said all parties agreed that they will support each other in fighting COVID-19, work together to build a stronger world health system, boost the potential of the World Health Organization and protect people's lives and health.

The leaders of member states signed and issued a summit declaration and issued five other statements, about the 75th anniversary of the victory in World War II; cracking down on the use of the internet to spread support for terrorism, separatism and extremism; international information security; dealing with the threat of drugs; and cooperation about digital economy.

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Leaders also approved a slew of cooperative documents in such areas as medical services and health, growth of communities and exchanges among countries, Le said.

Xu Bu, president of the China Institute of International Studies, said the summit "bolsters confidence and provides a needed driving force" for SCO members in their virus fight and efforts to revitalize the economy.

The summit was held as the pandemic affects public health and safety of the SCO countries and challenges society, the economy and the region's stability, Xu said, adding that countries should endorse a new type of international relations that seek fairness, justice and win-win cooperation, and they should work for building the community with a shared future for mankind.