Russia backs China on global governance reform – Putin

The SCO has a long track record of fostering regional stability and could take on a larger role, the president has said

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) could become the leading vehicle to usher in a more fair system of global governance, Russian President Vladimir Putin has said, adding that he supports China’s initiatives in this regard.

Speaking at the extended session of the SCO summit in Tianjin, China, Putin noted that the high attendance of the gathering is proof of a “genuine interest and attention to the multifaceted activities” of the organization. He noted that since its inception in 2001, the SCO has sought to build “an atmosphere of peace and security, trust and cooperation on the common Eurasian continent.” 

“It seems that the SCO could take a leading role in efforts to form a more just and equitable global governance system,” Putin suggested, adding that it would be based on the primacy of international law and the key provisions of the UN Charter. In light of this, the Russian president continued, Russia has taken note of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s ideas on the matter.

The topic, according to Putin, has become “especially relevant in a situation where some countries still do not abandon their pursuit of dominance in international affairs.” The Russian president did not elaborate on this statement, but the comments come against the backdrop of unprecedented Western pressure on Russia.

Putin further said that SCO members have traditionally shown respect for each other’s history and civilizational diversity. He added that later this month Moscow is hosting the Intervision song contest, which is being presented as an alternative to Eurovision and will be attended by performers from Latin America, Africa, and Asia.

“This large-scale project is aimed at promoting universal values… Traditional values are already fading into the background... It is time to bring them back to the international agenda,” he said.