The 7th BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) summit and the 15th meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is being held in Ufa, Russia.

Since its establishment, SCO has become a constructive power in the international political structure, contributing to the regional stability and common development. As the international status of SCO keeps rising, it has played a much bigger role in international and regional affairs.

Experts have expressed their views on the role played by SCO and its future development.

Xing Guangcheng, Director of the Institute of Chinese Borderland Studies of Chinese Academy of Social Science (CASS), and director of Center of SCO Studies of CASS:

"I will describe the development tendency of SCO in 2015 as “strategic linking”. As the “One belt and 'One Road' strategy has become clearer to the world, SCO members have showed keen interests in linking their own development strategy with the 'One Belt and One Road' strategy proposed by China."

Sun Zhuangzhi, secretary general of Center of SCO Studies of CASS:

"The SCO members are in a region where faces active international factors, complicated and changeable economic and security environment. With practical difficulties and challenges in constructing a multilateral platform, member countries have made much effort to carry out closer cooperation and deal with mutual crises and challenges."

Liu Huaqin, researcher of Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation:

"Regional economic cooperation is a main support of the development of SCO and is always a key topic of the SCO Summit. Under the background of a sluggish global economy, strengthening economic cooperation within the SCO framework has become a common expectation."

Chen Yurong, Secretary General of the Center of SCO Studies of CASS, and Director of the Department for European Studies of China Institute of International Studies:

"The SCO is at a crucial period of development. Facing the complicated and severe international environment, the Ufa Summit has a urgent task to comprehensively plan the future, strengthen security cooperation, deepen regional economic cooperation and complete organizational building."