China has named Ambassador Yan Wenbin as the special representative and national coordinator to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), a Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said on Wednesday.
"The SCO is the world's largest regional organization. Since its establishment in 2001, member states have upheld the 'Shanghai Spirit' and successfully explored a new path for the development of international organizations. China, in the capacity of the country holding the rotating chairmanship of the SCO last year, hosted the SCO summit in Tianjin, where President Xi Jinping and other leaders reached key consensus on strengthening multilateral cooperation, improving the SCO mechanism, and advancing a more just and equitable global governance system. This guides the SCO into a new stage of high-quality development," said Mao Ming, the spokeswoman, at a press conference in Beijing.
"The special representative and national coordinator of the Chinese government to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization is an important position created to deepen China's exchanges and cooperation with other SCO member states. Ambassador Yan Wenbin, who has extensive experience and is familiar with SCO affairs, is expected to actively fulfill his duties, maintain close communication with national coordinators of other member states, and well implement leaders' consensus, in efforts to strengthen the organization's development and cooperation, promote regional security and stability as well as development and prosperity, and contribute to building a closer SCO community of shared future," Mao said.
China names new special representative and national coordinator to SCO: spokeswoman
China names new special representative and national coordinator to SCO: spokeswoman
International observers have commended China's steady development trajectory as a source of confidence and stability for the global economy, with experts from Russia and Mexico highlighting the strategic direction set out in the country's 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030).
Chinese lawmakers on Thursday approved the outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan at the closing meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress, wrapping up this year's "two sessions", the country's annual political gatherings widely watched around the world.
Experts and officials shared their perspectives on China's policy direction, particularly its focus on technological innovation and systematic development.
"The entire population has benefited from China's economic achievements and successes. At present, preparations for the 15th Five-Year Plan are particularly noteworthy precisely because the country's leadership is striving to reach a new level in addressing social challenges. This five-year period will be extremely difficult in terms of the foreign policy environment. Global turbulence is increasing, and problems and challenges that may come from abroad must be compensated for by internal development. China has successfully done this so far, and is now doing it even more systematically and with greater precision," said Dmitry Novikov, first deputy chairman of the Committee on International Affairs of Russia's State Duma, on Tuesday.
Mexican economist Enrique Dussel, professor of economics at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, said China's remarkable progress in high-tech sectors was a result of the continuity and focus of its innovation policies.
"This is very present in the 'two sessions'. There is a coherent bet regarding high tech. So China does not copy and paste existing technologies, but is increasingly specializing in new disruptive technologies and innovations, from artificial intelligence to electric automobiles, autonomous transportation, nanotechnology and new technologies in which China is becoming the leader," he said.
"China has become the leader in a group of key sectors in global value chains. And very importantly, China today is pushing in these new high tech sectors through policies, such as new productive forces. So everything shows, we expect that China will continue with this path in the next Five-Year Plan," he said.
As global uncertainties mount, observers noted that China's systematic approach to development and its emphasis on shared progress offer valuable lessons and opportunities for cooperation, particularly for countries in the Global South seeking sustainable development pathways.
Int'l observers view China's 15th Five-Year Plan as source of global confidence
