Reporters from SCO member countries reflect on deepening cooperation

Some reporters from Shanghai Cooperation Organization member countries are keen to see the organization's refreshed accomplishments from regional cooperation after Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi Friday announced that this year's SCO summit will be held in the northern city of Tianjin.

As the country holding the rotating presidency of the SCO, China is putting together more than 100 events in political, security, economic, and people-to-people fields under the theme of "Upholding the Shanghai Spirit: SCO on the Move," according to the foreign minister at a press conference on the sidelines of the ongoing third session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) -- China's national legislature.

"Uzbekistan is actively engaging with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and is considered one of its active members. Within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, our countries are working to advance economic, trade, cultural, and transportation cooperation by promoting various initiatives. They are making efforts in this direction," said Nozimbek Mardonov, editor of the National News Agency of Uzbekistan, in an interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN).

The SCO has grown through the past 24 years from a six-member organization to a big family consisting of 26 countries since it was founded in 2001. It now has 10 full members, two observer countries, and 14 dialogue partners.

"The organization is expanding, and Iran has become finally a permanent member. All of the members are very important. And when they come together, it's very good that they will initiate some new strategies, not only for themselves, but for their region, for the whole world," Mahnaz Abdi, editor of Tehran Times, told the CGTN.

The previous version of the SCO summit, officially known as the Meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of State, was held in July 2024 in Astana, under the presidency of Kazakhstan.

"The relationship between Kazakhstan and China has been going on for centuries. I believe that thanks to this summit, we will open up new opportunities. I am confident that as a result of the event, we will achieve many achievements, undertake successful projects and contribute to their fruitfulness," said Gaziza Uzak, head of the News Agency Nazarmedia.kz and member of the Union of Journalists, Kazakhstan.

Reporters from SCO member countries reflect on deepening cooperation

Reporters from SCO member countries reflect on deepening cooperation

Reporters from SCO member countries reflect on deepening cooperation

China has set a new grain production capacity target of approximately 725 million tonnes in the draft outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030), aiming to strengthen the country's control over food security amid global uncertainties, an expert said on Thursday.

Grain production capacity forms the foundation for stable output, and the proposed target builds on steady gain output achieved during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025), said Tu Shengwei, a researcher at the Academy of Macroeconomic Research under the National Development and Reform Commission.

"Over the recent years, through the implementation of a new initiative to boost grain production capacity by 50 million tonnes, China's grain production capacity has been continuously strengthened. So we have a solid foundation to achieve this new target," Tu said.

The proposed target reflects the country's ambition to attain a higher level of food security in the coming five years, Tu said.   "Amid the highly complex international landscape and frequent, severe natural disasters, we must intensify the implementation of the food crop production strategy of improving farmland management and increasing the application of technology. By stepping up the new initiative to boost grain production capacity by 50 million tonnes and stabilizing production capacity at this level, we can respond to environmental uncertainties with stable capacity, hold the initiative in grain security more firmly, and create more room for macroeconomic regulation. This will also lay a stronger foundation for achieving other economic and social development goals during the 15th Five-Year Plan period," Tu said.

The grain production target is part of the broader draft outline for national economic and social development during the 15th Five-Year Plan period, which is currently being deliberated by lawmakers and political advisors at China's ongoing "two sessions."

The "two sessions" are the annual meetings of China's top legislature, the National People's Congress (NPC), and the top political advisory body, the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC). Both bodies serve a five-year term and hold a plenary session each year, generally in March.

The fourth session of the 14th NPC and the fourth session of the 14th National Committee of the CPPCC kicked off on Thursday and Wednesday, respectively.

New grain production capacity target to strengthen China's food security: expert