Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for "resistance against external interference" at a summit in Astana, Kazakhstan.
"We should unite to resist external interference, firmly support each other, worry about our problems and manage internal disputes by making peace our priority," he told representatives of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states, which includes India, Iran and Russia, AFP reported.
"The world is once again at a crossroads. It is crucial for the SCO to be on the side of justice and fairness," Xi continued.
The Chinese leader also called for "safeguarding the right to development," "jointly promoting technological innovation" and "maintaining the stability and fluidity of industrial chains and supply chains." He advocated "achieving common development goals".
Xi Jinping arrived in Kazakhstan on July 2 for a state visit and to attend this regional summit at a time when China is stepping up its diplomatic efforts in Central Asia.
The permanent members of the SCO are Kazakhstan, India, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and, since last year, Iran. Together they represent half of the world's population.
Today the organization accepted Belarus as its tenth member. | BGNES
