Economic ties need to be strengthened

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization should place high priority on developing closer economic and trade partnerships as part of broader practical cooperation among SCO members, said Uzbek Ambassador to China Bakhtiyor Saidov.

Countries should also jointly carry forward various projects under the framework of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative, which is of great importance for bilateral and multilateral partnerships with and within the SCO, Saidov told China Daily.

Specific plans should be formulated and moved forward for the partnership in terms of investment in transportation and high-tech manufacturing, as well as development of the service sector and tourism, he said.

Saidov called for concerted efforts from SCO members to build a transport corridor in the region－a move to help Central Asian countries access global markets.

A vital task for the organization is to set up a unified transportation management system, which allows for more unified and simplified customs procedures, standardized legal codes and a security oversight system for both cargo and passengers, he said.

"With this in mind, priority should be given to tapping the potential of cross-border transport in SCO countries. Construction of China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan cross-border railways in particular will help countries in the region put in place the shortest routes to access the international market," he added.

Saidov considers the building of a proposed SCO development bank to be of "imperative" importance, saying it's high time to build up a multilateral financing institution to ensure regional development.

The ambassador highly commended the Belt and Road Initiative, saying that compared with other initiatives related to the ancient Silk Road, China's initiative is more "clear-cut in concept" and "detailed in practice" in terms of partnerships with countries involved.

It will create opportunities for building an efficient cross-border transport system, increase cargo volume, expand the road and railway transportation network and give impetus to the building of modernized infrastructure facilities, providing conditions to make the region a global cross-border logistics hub, Saidov said.