Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, also Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, delivers an important speech at a working conference on the education campaign on the study and implementation of the Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era in Beijing, capital of China, April 3, 2023. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

BEIJING – Chinese President Xi Jinping will attend the 23rd meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) via video conference from Beijing on July 4 at the invitation of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the foreign ministry announced on Friday.

The Chinese leader will also deliver important remarks, said ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying.

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Speaking at a regular news briefing, Mao Ning, another foreign ministry spokesperson, said Xi, in his speech, will map out the future development of the SCO with the leaders of other countries attending the summit. 

As a founding member, China has always taken the SCO as a diplomatic priority.

Mao Ning, Spokesperson, Foreign Ministry, China

“With joint efforts, the SCO will surely achieve greater development and contribute to the development and prosperity of regional countries," she said.

Since its founding, the SCO has always followed the "Shanghai Spirit", continuously consolidated good-neighborly friendship and political mutual trust among member states, deepened cooperation in various fields, and played an important and constructive role in international and regional affairs, she said.

The world today is experiencing turmoil and changes, with a marked increase in destabilizing, uncertain and unpredictable factors, and the international community and regional countries expect the SCO to contribute more to safeguarding regional security and promoting common development, said Mao.

"As a founding member, China has always taken the SCO as a diplomatic priority.” 

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China is ready to work with other member states “to actively implement the Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative, and Global Civilization Initiative to promote the building of a closer SCO community with a shared future and create a better future for the Eurasian continent”, she added.