Azerbaijan is an important partner of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), and China supports the country's desire to advance its status in the organization, Ding Tao, China's charge d'affaires in Azerbaijan, said at a press conference on the results of the SCO Heads of State Council Meeting, Report informs.
“Azerbaijan became a partner of the SCO in 2016 and is an important member of the organization's family. China supports Azerbaijan's desire to strengthen cooperation with the SCO and advance the country's legal status in the organization,” the diplomat said.
Tao noted that in the past 23 years, since the establishment of the organization, the SCO has gone through a difficult development path and has become the largest regional organization: “Based on the principles of mutual respect, the SCO member states have established a benchmark for regional cooperation.”
He recalled that Chinese President Xi Jinping pointed to areas of future cooperation at the last meeting: “We must maintain a line of security through dialogue and cooperation. We must protect the right to development, and stability, be inclusive and stimulate economic development within the region.”