Preparations for 2025 SCO summit in full swing: Foreign Ministry official

China is comprehensively advancing all preparatory work for the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit to be held in the northern Tianjin Municipality this autumn, said Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs Liu Bin.

Assuming the rotating presidency of the SCO for 2024-2025,, China has been 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."

Considered the most significant annual event of the SCO, the summit serves as a platform for leaders of member states to consult and make decisions on major issues concerning the organization's development and cooperation.

"China, for the time being, is comprehensively advancing all preparatory work, working closely with all parties to draft cooperation plans in political, security, economic, and cultural fields, as well as formulating the SCO's development strategy for the next decade. Efforts are being made to push for the organizational operations, enhance the decision-making efficiency, and discuss significant matters such as the organization's future expansion. This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, the 80th anniversary of the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War and the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations. Therefore, the summit will present a unified voice on major international and regional issues and adopt relevant important documents," Liu said in an interview with China Central Television (CCTV) in Beijing.

Following Shanghai, Beijing and Qingdao, Tianjin will become the fourth Chinese city to host the SCO summit. "Tianjin is a base for advanced manufacturing research and development in China, a northern hub for international shipping, a demonstration zone for financial innovation and operations, a pilot zone for reform and opening up, and a core city in the Bohai Economic Rim. It boasts over 600 years of history as well as an open, diverse and inclusive culture. Holding the SCO summit in Tianjin will surely bring cooperation opportunities of Chinese modernization to the SCO, while showcasing the latest achievements and vitality of China's economic and social development. We believe that the Tianjin summit will present world-class standards and unique value, creating a gathering characterized by friendship, unity, vibrant highlights, and fruitful outcomes," said Liu.

In recent years, the SCO has incorporated new members who recognize the Shanghai Spirit, which is defined by mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, consultation, respect for diversity of civilizations and pursuit of common development.

Now, with nine member states, three observer states and 14 dialogue partners, the SCO is the world's largest regional organization in terms of geographical scale and population.

Preparations for 2025 SCO summit in full swing: Foreign Ministry official

Preparations for 2025 SCO summit in full swing: Foreign Ministry official

China and Canada should work together to promote the stable, healthy and sustainable development of bilateral economic and trade relations, Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng said in Beijing on Friday.

He, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks while attending the Canada-China Trade and Investment Banquet together with the visiting Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.

Speaking at the event, He said that under the strategic guidance of the important consensus reached by their leaders, China and Canada should adhere to the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, win-win cooperation, and mutual success, and jointly promote the stable, healthy, and sustainable development of bilateral economic and trade relations.

China is steadfastly expanding high-standard opening up, continuously developing new quality productive forces, and is willing to work with countries around the world, including Canada, to create new prospects for cooperation, said He.

Carney noted at the banquet that China is Canada's second-largest trading partner and said Canada looks forward to strengthening high-level exchanges with China, making full use of dialogue mechanisms in areas such as the economy and trade, and deepening cooperation in trade, agriculture, energy and other fields.

Carney arrived in Beijing on Wednesday to begin a four-day official visit to China, marking the first trip to the country by a Canadian prime minister in eight years.

China, Canada should work together for stable, healthy, sustainable economic ties: Vice Premier