Enhanced coordination necessary for relations and stable global order

Chinese Premier Li Qiang's visit to Moscow for the 24th Meeting of the Council of Heads of Government of Member States of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization this week has sent a clear signal: China is committed to helping shape a more just, inclusive and stable regional and global order.

Li's exchanges with the Russian leadership this week, as well as his extensive proposals at the SCO meeting, reflect the maturity of China-Russia relations and China's broader strategic vision for Eurasian cooperation.

The ability of Beijing and Moscow to maintain frequent, high-level communication at a time of accelerating geopolitical volatility demonstrates a relationship built on deep strategic trust. China views this partnership as a stabilizing anchor amid global uncertainty.

A key message from Premier Li's engagements in Moscow is that China seeks to elevate cooperation with Russia to a higher level of stability, resilience and mutual benefit. Strengthening the alignment of the two countries' development strategies, consolidating cooperation in energy, investment, agriculture and infrastructure, and improving the business environment are seen as essential pillars. Equally important is the human dimension, which includes visa-free travel, national theme years and growing cultural, educational and film exchanges.

The Moscow trip underlined China's determination to work with Russia to uphold multilateralism and strengthen coordination within regional and global frameworks. The SCO — now approaching its 25th anniversary — occupies a central place in this vision. China sees the organization not only as a platform born out of regional security needs, but as a rising force capable of contributing to global governance.

Li's proposals at the SCO meeting laid out a blueprint for the organization's next phase of development. The Global Governance Initiative, launched by China at the SCO Tianjin Summit, provides the intellectual and policy framework for the SCO to play a greater role in shaping an equitable and effective global governance system.

Strengthening security mechanisms, improving coordination through the SCO's specialized centers and jointly promoting universal security are indispensable to long-term peace in the SCO region. The Shanghai Spirit — the SCO's founding ethos — aligns naturally with the GGI's emphasis on mutual respect, fairness, openness and shared security.

China's call for deeper cooperation in development and security shows that the two are inseparable. High-quality Belt and Road cooperation, stable industry and supply chains, and an open and inclusive world economy are essential conditions for regional stability.

Innovation and transformation form another pillar of China's vision for the SCO's future. China is encouraging member states to expand collaboration in science and technology, the digital economy, the green transition and industrial upgrading. China's pledge to expand photovoltaic and wind power capacity by 10 million kilowatts annually with SCO partners underscores its commitment to a greener and more sustainable regional development model.

As the SCO begins implementing its 2026-35 development strategy, China emphasizes the need for greater cohesion, stronger action capacity and more effective institutional operations. Platforms such as the SCO Digital Economy Forum, the China-SCO AI Cooperation Forum and the planned SCO Development Bank are among the mechanisms that are being leveraged to enhance the organization's capacity for collective development. The SCO's joint communique and cooperation documents unveiled in Moscow reflect the shared determination of member states to inject fresh momentum into the organization's evolution.

At a time when some forces seek division, bloc confrontation or zero-sum competition, Li's Moscow trip reaffirmed that China, together with Russia and other SCO partners, is committed to advancing a more equitable, multipolar global order and a universally beneficial form of globalization. That aligns with China's consistent message — cooperation and connectivity can promote common development.

- Li Yang, China Daily