China's top diplomat meets SCO secretary-general, secretary-general-designate

China

China's top diplomat meets SCO secretary-general, secretary-general-designate

2024-12-14 07:24 Last Updated At：14:57

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Secretary-General Zhang Ming and Nurlan Yermekbayev, who has been appointed as the next SCO secretary-general, in Beijing on Friday.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, commended Zhang for his outstanding achievements in the development and growth of the SCO, congratulated Yermekbayev on his upcoming office, and said that China will continue providing support and convenience for the secretary-general in performing the duties and the work of the Secretariat.

Wang said that over the past three years, under the leadership of the heads of member states and the joint efforts of member states, the SCO has forged ahead with determination to upgrade cooperation and grow from strength to strength.

Noting that China now holds the rotating presidency of the SCO and is making every effort to advance its work, Wang said that the country has full confidence in the bright future of the SCO and is ready to work with other member states to build it into a force stabilizing international order, a reliable source of prosperity and rejuvenation for member states, and a happy home for people in the region.

The SCO Secretariat has accomplished much over the last three years, with the trust and care of member states and the support and assistance of China, and guided by the Shanghai spirit, Zhang said, adding that it has promoted practical cooperation in various fields, endeavored to enhance the international influence of the organization and the sense of gain felt by people in all countries, and become a clear promoter of the construction of a new type of international relations and a community with a shared future for all.

Yermekbayev spoke highly of China's leading role in the development of the SCO, saying that after taking office as secretary-general, he will continue to fully support the work of the Chinese presidency and work collaboratively to prepare for the SCO summit next year.

Trump renews criticism of NATO, calls alliance unhelpful to U.S.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday renewed criticism of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), calling the alliance unhelpful to the United States.

"NATO wasn't there when we needed them, and they won't be there if we need them again," Trump said in a Truth Social post after talks with NATO chief Mark Rutte.

"Remember Greenland, that big, poorly run, piece of ice!" Trump also said in his post.

Rutte is on a visit to Washington from Monday to Sunday for talks with Trump and senior U.S. officials, as divisions over the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran have sharpened tensions within the 77-year-old military alliance.

Speaking to U.S. media outlets, Rutte said that Trump "is clearly disappointed with many NATO allies," describing the talks as "very frank, very open."

Since the Iran war began, Trump demanded NATO allies join the United States to open the Strait of Hormuz, but was rejected. European countries like Spain and Italy even refused the U.S. military to use their airspace, which enraged Trump.

Trump on Monday sharpened his criticism of NATO, telling a White House press conference that some allies had gone "out of their way not to help" the United States in its war against Iran and once again describing the alliance as a "paper tiger."

In an interview early this month, he said he was "absolutely" considering an attempt to withdraw the United States from the alliance.

The rift in the transatlantic alliance has widened during Trump's second term, fueled by his decision to launch the war on Iran, and earlier tensions over his push to take over Denmark's Greenland.