When founded in June 2001, Shanghai Cooperation Organization (hereinafter referred to as “SCO”) was applauded as a “brand new multilateral cooperation organization” built on the “Shanghai Spirit” of equality and mutual benefits. Some even believes that it would help to form “multipolarity” in world politics.[1] It began with security, confidence-building measures between China and the four former Soviet states, and after including Uzbekistan, it transformed from what had been called Shanghai Five summit mechanism into a regional cooperative organization seeking to maintain regional stability and promote economic cooperation. The members of the SCO also have pledged to “strengthen their consultation and coordination and in regional and international affairs, to support and cooperate with each other in major international and regional issue, and to promote and consolidate regional and world stability”.[2]
 
The SCO covers 60 percents of the Eurasian landmass and has a population of 1.5 million. The emergence of such an organization is a significant event in world politics and casts profound implications on the relations among major powers. Many western commentators were concerned that Beijing and Moscow not only formed an organization that would encounter growing Western influences in Central Asia but constituted a potential Sino-Russian Strategic realignment that would challenges U.S. interests worldwide. [3]However, as is evident from the development of the SCO, Washington has not been excluded from the region, and both Moscow and Beijing rendered support to Washington in its anti-terrorism war following the attacks of September 11. Hence, the Sino-Russian strategic partnership in Central Asia did not develop in an anti-Western direction; the SCO does not seek to deprive Western interests in the region. Instead, the SCO shares a common opposition to separatism and terrorism; it reflects the common geopolitical interests that have brought China and Russian together in this regional platform.
 
China, one of leader states in the SCO, established the organization for its own interests in Central Asia and its border region. China has enormous interests in Central Asia ranging from geopolitical and trade to energy, and the question of the region security and relations with Russia and its neighbors are vital for the stability and economic prosperity in Xinjiang and other western provinces. To realize its national

[1] See, Zhangmo, “Shanghai Hezuo Zuzhi De Dansheng”(Birth of Shanghai Cooperation Organization), Jiefang Ribao (Jiefang Daily), 15 June 2001

[2] Quoted from the Joint Declaration on the Establishment of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, can be found at www.prcmfa.gov.cn

[3] See http://wps.wm.ru:8101/chitalka/military/en/20010622.shtml
 

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