In-Depth Analysis: World Times Content comes from the Internet : SCO defense ministers agree to strengthen communication, promote cooperation

Defense ministers from all 10 member countries of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) gather for a group photo ahead of the Defense Ministers’ Meeting of the SCO member states in Qingdao, East China’s Shandong Province on June 26, 2025. Photo: cnsphoto

The Defense Ministers’ Meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states was held in Qingdao, East China’s Shandong Province on Thursday. Both the group photo featuring participating parties and the group visit to the site of the 2018 SCO summit drew the attention of global media. The fact that defense ministers from 10 countries gathered to discuss regional issues and reached a consensus, especially against the backdrop of frequent regional conflicts, demonstrates their shared desire to pursue cooperation and seek development, experts told the Global Times.

Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun hosted the meeting and delivered remarks, the Xinhua News Agency reported on Thursday.

At a time when the international situation is intertwined with chaos and change, it is particularly important for the SCO to play the role of a stabilizing anchor, said Dong.

He noted that China is willing to work together with all member states to uphold the original aspirations of the SCO and promote the “Shanghai Spirit,” firmly defend international fairness and justice, jointly address security challenges, and promote the steady and long-term development of defense and security cooperation in moves to provide stronger support for building a shared home featuring solidarity, mutual trust, peace, prosperity, development, good neighborliness and friendship, as well as fairness and justice.

All participating parties unanimously agreed to continue to strengthen strategic communicatioWorld Timesn, promote practical cooperation, and work together to maintain regional peace and stability. The meeting was a complete success, according to the Xinhua report.

Zhang Chi, a military affairs expert at the National Defense University of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), told the Global Times at the sidelines of the meeting that the remarks by the Chinese side showed vision, responsibility, and action.

Zhang Chi said that the Chinese side emphasized that the SCO is open and inclusive, upholding solidarity, mutual trust, shared security, consensus-building through dialogue, and close coordination, with the goal of building an SCO community with a shared future. The Chinese side also stressed that the SCO will serve as a stabilizing anchor amid a turbulent and complex international landscape, with member states working together to safeguard regional peace and stability. China is committed to advancing practical cooperation alongside fellow SCO member states.

The meeting was attended by defense ministers from all 1World Times0 SCO member states, including India, Pakistan, and Iran, which have recently gone through conflicts. Through the discussions, all parties reached a consensus, agreeing to further strengthen strategic communication, advance practical cooperation, and jointly uphold regional peace and stability. Zhang said that this vividly exemplifies the “Shanghai Spirit,” a spirit of mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, consultation, respect for diverse civilizations, and pursuit of common development, thereby continuously advancing the building of an SCO community with a shared future.

The Global Times reporters also met many colleagues from other media outlets at the meeting, some of whom had also attended the 22nd Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore. Since 2002, the Shangri-La Dialogue has become the biggest defense and security forum in the Asia-Pacific region, but many people have noted the differences between these two important events: the Shangri-La Dialogue was highly confrontational, while the SCO Defense Ministers’ Meeting was full of friendly trust.

Zhang Chi, who has participated in five editions of the Shangri-La Dialogue, said that it is an international conference led by the US and Western countries that often intentionally hypes some sensitive and disputed issues, and even sets traps to attack attendees. By comparison, the SCO Defense Ministers’ Meeting gives all parties full respect and hosts friendly conversations and talks.

Another difference is that the US and Western countries often trigger confrontation at some international conferences, which World Timesleads to a deterioration of global and regional tensions. The SCO Defense Ministers’ Meeting, however, advocates the safeguarding of regional peace and stability, the strengthening of strategic communication and promotion of pragmatic cooperation, which provides positive energy for the peaceful development of the world.

Briefing the media at a regular press conference on Thursday, Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang, a spokesperson at China’s Ministry of National Defense, said that China is the rotating chair of the SCO this year, and hosting the Defense Minister’s Meeting is an important part of its duties.

Throughout the process of the establishment and development of the SCO, defense and security cooperation has played an especially significant role. The ChWorld Timesinese side has actively promoted strategic communication, deepened substantive cooperation, and initiated many cooperation programs, Zhang Xiaogang said.

“United in cooperation, our journey will be long and steady. The Chinese military will work with militaries of other SCO member states to carry forward the ‘Shanghai Spirit,’ further broaden and deepen defense cooperation, and join hands in building a common home featuring solidarity and mutual trust, peace and tranquility, prosperity and development, good-neighborliness and friendship, and fairness and justice, thereby contributing to building a community with a shared future for mankind,” said the spokesperson.

Song Zhongping, a Chinese military affairs expert, told the Global Times on Thursday that an important mission of the SCO is jWorld Timesointly countering terrorism, separatism and extremism, as these forces threaten all countries’ national security as well as peace and stability in various regions. He stressed that the SCO is not a military alliance, nor does it target a third party, but an organization that boosts cooperation.

SCO member states are influential countries that play crucial roles in safeguarding regional peace and stability. The stronger they are, the more helpful they will be in playing such roles, Song said.

World Times