On April 23, 2018, President Xi Jinping held a group meeting at the Great Hall of the People with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov of Russia, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj of India, Minister of Foreign Affairs Kairat Abdrakhmanov of Kazakhstan, Foreign Minister Erlan Abdyldaev of Kyrgyzstan, Foreign Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif of Pakistan, Foreign Minister Sirojiddin Aslov of Tajikistan, Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov of Uzbekistan, Secretary-General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Rashid Alimov, and Director of the Executive Committee of the SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure Yevgeniy Sysoyev, who were in China for the attendance at the meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the SCO Member States.

Xi Jinping pointed out that since the establishment of the SCO nearly 17 years ago, it has gone through an extraordinary development process, becoming a comprehensive regional organization with extensive influence. The member states have comprehensively promoted cooperation in various fields, and actively played constructive roles in international and regional affairs, setting an example of a new type of international relations featuring mutual respect, fairness, justice, and win-win cooperation. At present, the SCO cooperation in the six major areas, including politics, economy, security, people-to-people and cultural engagement, external exchanges, and mechanism construction has been steadily advanced, with the overall level of cooperation being constantly elevated.

Xi Jinping stressed that China has consistently taken the promotion of the SCO's development as one of its diplomatic priorities. Under the new circumstances, firstly, we should stay true to our original aspiration and firmly carry forward the "Shanghai Spirit"; secondly, we should give play to our advantages and fully release the potential after membership expansion; thirdly, we should forge ahead and make progress, and determine to promote comprehensive cooperation. China is willing to, together with all the other member states, continuously support each other in politics to contribute "SCO wisdom" and "SCO solutions"; safeguard regional security and stability in security to improve the level of coordination and the capability to act; deepen the "Belt and Road" cooperation in economy to gradually establish institutional arrangements for regional economic cooperation; and expand personnel exchanges as well as people-to-people and cultural exchanges to promote people-to-people bonds.

Xi Jinping pointed out that leaders of the SCO member states will gather in Qingdao, China in over one month. It is believed that the SCO Qingdao Summit will surely be a success under the joint efforts of all parties.

Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov of Russia, Foreign Minister Erlan Abdyldaev of Kyrgyzstan, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj of India, and Foreign Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif of Pakistan delivered speeches successively as foreign representatives. They said that the leaders of all countries attach great importance to and look forward to attending the SCO Qingdao Summit, as well as speak highly of the work China has done as the presidency. The SCO after expansion should stick to the "Shanghai Spirit", adapt to the development of situation, and intensify closer coordination and cooperation in international and regional affairs. All parties support the positive proposals put forward by China in promoting the SCO development and enhancing the cooperation in various fields among the member states. All parties are willing to work with China closely to jointly well make various preparatory work for the SCO Qingdao Summit, so as to ensure the Summit a complete success.

Member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and Director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee Yang Jiechi, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, and others attended the meeting.