China commends the Russian presidency for its initiative in convening today’s meeting. I wish to thank Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon; the Secretary-General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), Mr. Alimov; the Secretary-General of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), Mr. Bordyuzha; and the Vice-Chair of the Executive Committee of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), Mr. Ivanov, for their respective briefings.

At present, the international situation is complex and undergoing profound changes. Regional hotspot issues have surfaced one after the other. Traditional and non-traditional security threats are interwoven. As the core of the international collective security mechanism, the Security Council bears the primary responsibility for the maintenance of international security. Cooperation in the areas of peace and security carried out between the United Nations and regional and subregional organizations, in line with Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations, is conducive to further strengthening the international collective security mechanism and better maintaining international peace and security. Cooperation between the United Nations and regional and subregional organizations should abide by the following principles.

First, it is necessary to adhere to the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations. It is necessary to encourage and support regional and subregional organizations in peacefully resolving their regional hotspot issues through dialogue, consultation, good offices and mediation. It is necessary to respect the sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of the countries concerned.

Secondly, it is necessary to adopt a collective, holistic, collaborative and sustainable concept of security. It is necessary to take into account the historical background and current circumstances of the issues concerned, adopt a moderate approach and take holistic measures to seek and promote security through cooperation and the realization of mutual benefits and common security, which represent a win-win situation.

Thirdly, it is necessary to take into account the focuses and priorities of regional and subregional organizations and to clarify the orientation of cooperation, strengthen coordination and form synergy.

Fourthly, it is necessary to fully exploit the unique advantages of regional and subregional organizations with respect to geography, history and culture. Furthermore, it is necessary to establish means of cooperation so as to build a relationship of global partnership based on dialogue instead of confrontation and partnership instead of alliance. In recent years, SCO, CSTO and CIS have achieved positive results in fighting terrorism, drug trafficking and transnational organized crime, and promoting economic trade cooperation and people-to-people exchanges. They have thereby played an able part in maintaining regional peace, stability and development. China expresses its appreciation in that connection.

The year 2016 marks the fifteenth anniversary of SCO. Since its founding in 2001, SCO has kept abreast with the trends of the time and has advocated the practice of the Shanghai Spirit, which is embodied by mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, consultation, respect for diversity of civilizations and seeking common development. It has achieved remarkable results. Members of SCO have signed the Treaty of Long-term Good Neighborliness, which has provided mutual support to the paths of development chosen by each member and has chosen to seek mutual trust and common development.

SCO has adopted a policy of openness and expanded relations beyond its purview. It has established a relationship of cooperation with the United Nations, CIS and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. It has thereby set a good example for regional and international cooperation, which should be efficient, open and mutually beneficial. The Shanghai spirit has vitality and values that transcend geography and time. It has provided a useful lesson to all those who seek to establish good-neighbourly relationships and common prosperity. It has also injected vitality into the establishment of a new type of international relations featuring win-win cooperation.

As an important member of SCO, China consistently supports SCO efforts to play a positive role in maintaining regional peace and security and seeking common development. China has actively implemented SCO development strategies towards 2025 and adopted measures to make sure that the “Belt and Road” initiative became SCO development strategy. China has carried out measures to comprehensively promote cooperation in all areas. In June, Chinese President Xi Jinping attended the sixteenth meeting of the Council of Heads of State, where he proposed that SCO make security and the maintenance of regional peace and security its first priority. China has called for accelerated negotiations on the SCO anti-extremism convention, and announced a series of practical measures in support of deepening cooperation within the SCO. Together with other leaders of SCO, China published the Tashkent Declaration, which coincided with the fifteenth anniversary of SCO and made a great contribution in that connection.

China, together with other countries, is ready to carry the Shanghai spirit forward and move ahead with the continued cooperation between the United Nations and regional organizations and work together to establish a new order of international relations built on cooperation and mutual benefit. China hopes to forge a community with a shared future so as to work together to achieve durable peace and security and prosperity — a world we all aspire to.