China used an event marking the final stretch before its biggest diplomatic event of the year to accuse the US of “threatening world peace,” in a thinly veiled critique of the rival superpower just before it hosts a key gathering of global leaders.
More than 20 foreign leaders are set to attend the annual summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), a bloc of countries led by Russia and China, Chinese Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs Liu Bin said yesterday.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan are among those expected at the meeting in Tianjin on Aug. 31 and Sept. 1.
Photo: Reuters
Alluding to the US in shrouded terms typically used by China, Liu framed the gathering hosted by Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) as a break with the ethos of “a certain country” that “seeks to put its national interest above the interest of others.”
“The guiding principles and core spirit” of the SCO transcend “outdated concepts such as the clash of civilizations and Cold War mentality and zero-sum games,” Liu said.
Xi would also announce new initiatives and actions to support the group’s development, and propose new methods and approaches for improving the global governance system, Liu said.
“President Xi Jinping will jointly sign and issue the Tianjin Declaration with leaders of other member states, and approve the SCO’s development strategy for the next 10 years,” he added.
Other prominent attendees at this year’s summit include Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto.
Some leaders are expected to stay on for a Sept. 3 military parade commemorating the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, where China is expected to showcase its latest weaponry.
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