Xi champions free and fair trade at SCO summit

At the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Qingdao, President Xi Jinping gave a speech warning against “unilateralism, trade protectionism and backlash against globalisation,” as the parallel meeting of the G7 saw sharp disagreements amongst members over the same issues, state-run news agency Xinhua reports.

Xi emphasised that SCO members – which include Russia, India, Pakistan, and four central Asian nations – will continue to abide by World Trade Organisation rules and honour international agreements. The latter comment was likely a reference to the Iran nuclear deal designed to reassure Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, who was a guest attendant at the meeting.

The leaders signed a bundle of agreements including the Qingdao Declaration and an accompanying document for the Treaty on Long-Term Good-Neighbourliness, Friendship and Cooperation, which encompass collaborative efforts in fields from economics, security, diplomacy, and cultural exchanges.