Implementation of the Silk Road Economic Belt concept promotes cooperation in SCO countries (2)

The concept of the Silk Road Economic Belt, proposed by the President Xi Jinping in a speech, delivered at Nazarbayev University, September 2013, aroused great interest in all SCO countries. "This project, which is designed for country-level partnership and long-term mutually beneficial cooperation, if implemented, will add a new "quality" of multi-lateral cooperation, including in the SCO area", - said the Secretary-General of the SCO Dmitry Mezentsev on February 13, during a work meeting in the editorial office of People's Daily Online.

Mezentsev continued, "SCO countries are ready to consider concrete proposals from China on this project and to discuss plans for its implementation, as well as to develop cooperative policies". Mezentsev believes the policies "have to be based on one of the most important principles - that is the national interests of the founding countries, as well as taking into consideration the common interests of the SCO".

The SCO is paying great attention to trade and economic cooperation. In the framework of the Organization, there is a Program for multi-lateral trade and economic cooperation and an Action plan for its implementation. The SCO Business Council and SCO Interbank Association are working actively on SCO projects, which demonstrate the results of SCO cooperation.