国内英语资讯:China Focus: SCO expansion vital for intl security, common prosperity_时事

国内英语资讯:China Focus: SCO expansion vital for intl security, common prosperity

Sun's remarks were echoed by Jiang Yi, a researcher with the Institute of Russian, Eastern European, Central Asian Studies under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, saying that the SCO had taken the lead in building new international relations, particular in resolving deep-rooted historical problems and creating a new consensus.

"The SCO expansion indicates that the 'Shanghai Spirit' has been recognized by more and more countries and that it has a bigger appeal in regional cooperation," Jiang said.

Noting that Pakistan is located at a strategic position along the Belt and Road, while India is one the fastest growing economies in the world, Jiang said the expansion came at the right time, with southern Asian countries looking to tackle terrorism.

China, as a staunch supporter and facilitator of the SCO framework, has played a positive role in the development of the mechanism.

Currently, China is committed to building a new type of international relation featuring win-win cooperation. The Belt and Road Initiative has engaged more than 100 countries and international organizations since it was proposed in 2013 and has already made great progress.

The initiative aims to build a trade and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along and beyond the ancient Silk Road trade routes.

Meanwhile, China invested a total of 51.1 billion U.S. dollars in Belt and Road countries from autumn 2013 to July 2016, accounting for 12 percent of its total outbound direct investment.