MEMBERS of the Shanghai Co-operation Organisation (SCO) adopted a declaration following the summit in the Chinese city of Tianjin today, including the establishment of a development bank for the group.

The declaration followed remarks by Chinese President Xi Jinping where he called on countries to reject cold war thinking, rival power blocs, and bullying and instead protect the UN-centered international system. 

President Xi called for a world order with multiple centres of power and a more just and balanced system of global governance.

He argued that “the shadows of cold war mentality, bullying are not dissipating, and there are new challenges that are increasing, not diminishing.”

“The world has entered a new period of tumultuous change, and global governance has arrived at a new crossroads,” President Xi said.

The new Development Bank will, the statement said, help to strengthen co-operation and sustainable development “including in the field of industry, efficient waste management and resource use in accordance with the principles of environmental protection, energy conservation and clean energy development, with a view to ensuring the SCO’s contribution to promoting sustainable socio-economic development.”

The SCO said that its members were ready to deepen collaboration in preventing security risks associated with artificial intelligence and to “strengthen scientific and technical achievements and innovations.”

Members insisted that there must be “full compliance with the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction as an important instrument in the field of disarmament and non-proliferation.”

The SCO also continued its call for reform of international institutions including the United Nations. The declaration called on the UN to adapt “to modern political and economic realities.”

On the margins of the summit Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin met today in a show of deepening ties when New Delhi’s relations with Washington are strained over the purchase of Russian oil.

In his remarks to open the talks, Mr Modi termed the partnership with Moscow as “special and privileged.” 

President Putin addressed Mr Modi as a “dear friend” and hailed Russia’s ties with India as special, friendly and trusting.

He said “Russia and India have maintained special relations for decades. Friendly, trusting. This is the foundation for the development of our relations in the future. 

“These relations are absolutely non-partisan in nature, supported by the overwhelming majority of the peoples of our countries.”

During the summit, Mr Modi welcomed the peace initiatives aimed at halting the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.