MOSCOW - The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is equipped and capable of taking the joint implementation of the Global Governance Initiative (GGI) as an opportunity to play a greater role in bringing the world under good governance, Chinese Premier Li Qiang said on Tuesday.

Li made the remarks when addressing the 24th Meeting of the Council of Heads of Government of Member States of the SCO.

Leaders and representatives from SCO members, observers and dialogue partners, guests of the host country, as well as leaders of international organizations attended the meeting, which was chaired by Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin.

Chinese President Xi Jinping solemnly put forth the GGI at the SCO Tianjin Summit in September, offering Chinese wisdom and solutions to help the international community jointly address global transformation and urgent challenges, Li said.

He underscored the SCO's importance in building and reforming the global governance system.

Firstly, the SCO should leverage its unique strengths, Li said.

Noting that the Shanghai Spirit is highly aligned with the core concepts of the GGI, Li said that the SCO has extensive practical experience and solid institutional guarantees, and should make full use of these advantages to make greater contributions to global governance and help build a community with a shared future for humanity.

Secondly, the SCO should focus on the key areas of development and security, he said.

He urged SCO countries to promote development and security through cooperation, enhance the alignment of development strategies, promote high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, ensure the stability and smooth flow of global industrial and supply chains, and jointly build an open and inclusive world economy.

He said China stands ready to work closely with all SCO members to establish the SCO Development Bank as soon as possible and proposes the establishment of a China-SCO cooperation center for metabolic diseases

Li also called for efforts to strengthen security cooperation mechanisms, give full play to the important role of the four security centers, and work with the international community to jointly uphold multilateralism and promote universal security and lasting peace.

Thirdly, the SCO should stimulate strong vitality for innovation and transformation, he said. He urged joints efforts to strengthen cooperation in science and technology as well as industrial innovation, and promote cooperation on traditional energy and renewable energy.

Li said China welcomes the active participation of all parties in the SCO Digital Economy Forum and the China-SCO Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Forum, adding that China is willing to jointly build and make good use of the China-SCO digital economy cooperation platform and the sci-tech innovation cooperation center, and steadily increase the installed capacity of photovoltaic and wind power each by 10 million kilowatts in the next five years.

Li pointed out that leaders at the SCO Tianjin Summit jointly approved the development strategy for the SCO in the 2026-2035 period.

He said China is willing to work with all member countries to pay more attention to strategic coordination, effectively promote the implementation of cooperation, optimize and improve the operation mechanism, further enhance cohesion, capacity for action, and influence, and continuously make the SCO better and stronger.  

Mutually beneficial cooperation

Also on Tuesday, Li said that China's determination and position to develop mutually beneficial cooperation with Russia have always been consistent.

He made the remarks in talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin.

Li first conveyed President Xi's cordial greetings and best wishes to President Putin. He noted that under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era has maintained operation at a high level.

Since the beginning of this year, President Xi and President Putin have met twice, pointing out the direction for the further development of China-Russia relations, Li said.

In the face of a volatile international situation, he added, China stands ready to work with Russia to uphold the original aspiration of eternal friendship, enhance alignment of development strategies, deepen cooperation in various fields, achieve more practical results, so as to better serve the development and rejuvenation of the two countries.

China is willing to further enhance the resilience of cooperation with Russia, consolidate and maintain the steady development momentum of bilateral cooperation, the premier said.

He urged both sides to jointly host new China-Russia national-level theme years well, leverage mutually beneficial policies, such as visa-free access, to serve the public interest, promote better mutual understanding and closer ties between the peoples of the two countries, and consolidate the foundation of people-to-people friendship in bilateral relations.

China is willing to continue to work closely with Russia to implement the outcomes of the SCO Tianjin Summit, carry forward the Shanghai Spirit, deepen unity and cooperation to create a model for practicing the Global Governance Initiative, promote high-quality development of the SCO, and make greater contributions to peace and development in the region and the world at large, the premier said. 

Trade with Mongolia

China is willing to further expand trade volume with Mongolia and explore cooperation in emerging fields such as green energy and digital economy, Li said on Tuesday when meeting with Mongolian Prime Minister Gombojav Zandanshatar.

Describing China and Mongolia as close neighbors connected by mountains and rivers, Li said maintaining a long-term, stable, and friendly cooperative relationship serves the fundamental interests of the peoples of both countries.

The meeting between President Xi and Mongolian President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh in Beijing in September charted the course for advancing bilateral ties, he added.

Li said China has always regarded Mongolia as an important priority in its neighborhood diplomacy, and is willing to work with Mongolia to take the building of a China-Mongolia community with a shared future as the guiding principle for developing bilateral relations.

China is ready to further strengthen strategic communication with Mongolia, respect and accommodate each other's core interests and major concerns, expand pragmatic cooperation, and promote the continuous growth of the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries, the Chinese premier said.

Noting that China and Mongolia have strong economic complementarity, Li said China is willing to strengthen the alignment of development strategies and enhance cooperation in traditional fields such as mineral and energy resources, infrastructure, and connectivity to forge more drivers for interest convergence and cooperation.

He said that China supports closer exchanges between neighboring Chinese provinces and regions and Mongolia, tapping into the potential for cooperation, and jointly promoting international cooperation in the Altai sub-region.

Both sides should promote exchanges among political parties, academic circle, media and youth, continuously deepen mutual understanding, and enhance mutual trust and friendship, Li said, adding that China is willing to strengthen communication and coordination with Mongolia on regional affairs and jointly safeguard peace and stability for both countries and the region.