'SCO action' can help advance reform of global governance

Editor's Note: Sun Zhuangzhi is a director of the Institute of Russian, Eastern European and Central Asian Studies under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

The article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily those of CGTN.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) has emerged as a key platform for advancing cooperation on global governance.

As the organization implements the consensus reached at its summits and expands practical cooperation, the concept of reforming global governance is gaining broader substance and more concrete pathways.

The SCO's efforts to promote a fairer and more equitable global governance system are closely aligned with its own principles and practices, reflecting its growing role in responding to changes in the international landscape.

First, it is closely aligned with the Shanghai Spirit.

The Shanghai Spirit, which underpins multilateral cooperation within the SCO, emphasizes mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, consultation, respect for the diversity of civilizations and the pursuit of common development.

These principles are consistent with the idea of sovereign equality, which calls for all countries, regardless of size or strength, to have an equal voice in international affairs.

This approach rejects bloc confrontation and power politics while respecting the right of countries to choose their own development paths based on their national conditions.

It offers an alternative to traditional zero-sum approaches to international politics and provides a basis for cooperation and shared development.

Second, it is closely aligned with the SCO's evolving regional cooperation mechanism.

The SCO has developed into one of the world's largest regional cooperation organizations in terms of both geographic reach and population.

Its growing weight reflects the changing political, economic and security landscape across Eurasia.

With profound shifts taking place in the global political, economic and security landscape, global governance needs to adapt accordingly.