China's Defense Minister Dong Jun on Tuesday told his counterparts from the Shanghai Cooperation Organization member states that the regional security organization should resolutely uphold the international order and jointly safeguard fairness and justice.

Dong made the remarks in a speech at the SCO's Defense Ministers' Meeting, which was held in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, according to China's Defense Ministry.

As a paradigm for practicing multilateralism, the SCO should resolutely work together to improve security governance, eliminate root causes of turbulence and conflict through common development, and contribute to achieve sustainable peace, development, and prosperity, he said.

Dong said that the four global initiatives proposed by China — the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, the Global Civilization Initiative, and the Global Governance Initiative — have injected precious stability and certainty into a turbulent and uncertain world.

With this year marking the SCO's 25th anniversary, member states should deepen defense and security cooperation and drive the organization to achieve higher-quality development that is more united, collaborative, dynamic, and ambitious, the Chinese defense chief noted.

At the meeting, defense chiefs of participating countries expressed their commitment to strengthening strategic communication, advancing pragmatic cooperation, and maintaining regional peace and tranquility, according to the China's Defense Ministry.

During his visit to Kyrgyzstan, Dong held bilateral meetings and talks with the defense leaders of several countries, including Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Iran, Pakistan, and Belarus.