Scholars from the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) countries are upbeat that greater connectivity will enhance cooperation and joint development, as they gathered in central China's Henan Province to discuss the SCO's role and sustainable development in a changing world.

The ongoing SCO Media and Think Tank Summit is taking place in Zhengzhou, the capital of Henan, from Wednesday to Sunday. Co-hosted by Xinhua News Agency, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), and the Henan provincial government, the event has attracted more than 400 representatives from media outlets, think tanks and governments of 26 SCO countries, as well as international and regional organizations.

Since its establishment in 2001 with a focus on security cooperation, the SCO has expanded from six member states to 10 member states with two observer states and 14 dialogue partners. The participating scholars believe that the SCO can support closer economic and people-to-people ties, creating a new pattern of regional cooperation.

"The SCO possesses the practical conditions to become a new type of geo-economic entity," said Sun Zhuangzhi, head of the Institute of Russian, Eastern European and Central Asian Studies under the CASS, at a think tank forum held at the summit on Thursday.

Sun highlighted that with the accession of Iran and Belarus as member states, the SCO has the potential to develop multiple overland corridors, which can support regional economic prosperity.

As a key Eurasia hub, the SCO can establish an open and efficient transportation system, significantly contributing to economic development and connectivity across the continent, he added.

Cholpon Koichumanova, a senior scholar at Kyrgyz State University named after I. Arabaev, remarked that the SCO has gained increased influence and respect over the past few years, demonstrating its relevance in global processes.

"In the context of global transformations and shifting values, economic cooperation between Central Asia and China is especially important," she said, noting that the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway will play a critical role not just for the countries involved but also for infrastructure development and mutual ties enhancement across Central Asia.

Economic connectivity has evidently grown within the SCO since its establishment. China's customs data show that from 2001 to 2020, the share of global trade of SCO member states rose from 5.4 percent to 17.5 percent. In 2024, trade between China and other SCO member states, observers and dialogue partners reached a record 890 billion U.S. dollars.

Zhang Ting, a senior researcher at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation with China's Ministry of Commerce, said that while the potential for economic cooperation among SCO members continues to be unleashed, there remains a shortage in connectivity regarding infrastructure and digital trade.

"Such factors have limited deeper regional economic integration and development," she said.

She thus suggested strengthening policy research collaboration to build an institutional framework for coordinated regional development based on the sustainable development strategies of member states, and deepening research in key areas such as the digital economy, green development, and industrial chain cooperation.

Hassan Daud Butt, a senior associate professor at Bahria University in Pakistan, highlighted the importance of regional connectivity and integration in transforming underperforming regions into centers of opportunity.

Butt regards the SCO as a critical framework for inclusive globalization, where "development is attuned to regional realities while connected to global opportunities," in a world striving to balance resilience with openness.

Therefore, he anticipates that the SCO framework will not only promote trade and logistics but, more importantly, empower and connect people, with a focus on quality, sustainability, digital and green connectivity.

Kin Phea, director general of the International Relations Institute of Cambodia, Royal Academy of Cambodia, recommended leveraging digital technologies to encourage shared knowledge and real-time cooperation. This includes the establishment of a shared digital platform for media and research institutions.

He also advised inclusive dialogue mechanisms that facilitate the exchange and cooperation among municipal authorities, think tanks, and academic institutions of the SCO countries in specific sectors such as urban innovation and public health.

According to Sun Zhuangzhi, as the SCO has entered a "relatively mature stage of development," it should shift from emphasizing the construction of consultation mechanisms to focusing more on action-oriented mechanisms, with measures to build a community with a shared future within the SCO framework.

Building a community with a shared future under the SCO is a shared aspiration of countries in the region, and also a long-term task, Sun said.

"Based on broad consensus, member states need to deepen practical cooperation across political, security, economic and cultural fields to gradually turn this vision into reality," he said.

Chinese media reported on Saturday that the Chinese boy photographed with Russian President Vladimir Putin during his first visit to China as Russian president 25 years ago has been identified. Now an adult, the man expressed in a personal statement that he looks forward to meeting President Putin again and warmly welcomes his future visits to China.

On July 17, Russia's state media outlet Russia Today (RT) published a post on its official Weibo account, seeking a boy named Peng Pai, who had appeared in a photo with President Putin on July 17 during his 2000 visit to China. The boy was reportedly from Yueyang, Central China's Hunan Province.

RT wrote in its post: "If he could be found, it would be truly meaningful!"

According to Hunan Daily's Saturday report, Peng Pai completed his master's degree in 2013 from the Moscow State University of Automobile and Road Construction. He currently serves as a senior engineer and head of the engineering department at the municipal branch of the Sixth Engineering Company under Hunan Construction Investment Group.

"Learning that a Russian state media outlet was looking for me came as a surprise," Peng Pai said on Friday, according to Hunan Daily, visibly moved as he recalled his encounter and photo with President Putin 25 years ago. "I remember clearly, President Putin stepped past the armed police, lifted me over the railing, and kissed me on the forehead," Peng added.

"My decision to learn about Russia and later pursue graduate studies in Moscow was, in some way, inspired by that encounter," Peng said in an interview. The report noted that the photo was widely published by major Chinese media outlets at the time, and Peng's family has kept both the photograph and the news clippings to this day.

Recalling the scene, Peng said, "He kissed my forehead and said something in Russian that I didn't understand at the time." He described the young Putin as "a kind, avuncular uncle" and said the unexpected encounter sparked his long-standing interest in Russia.

China expressed strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition to Czech Republic President Petr Pavel's disregard for China's solemn position and the overall China-Czech relationship, and his insistence on meeting in India with the 14th Dalai Lama and Penpou Tseringem from the "Tibetan government in exile," said a spokesperson from the Chinese Embassy in Czech on Sunday.  

The Xizang region has been an integral part of China's territory since ancient times, that Xizang affairs are purely China's internal affairs and allow no external interference, said the spokesperson. 

The 14th Dalai Lama is a political exile who, under the guise of religion, engages in anti China separatist activities and is by no means a mere religious figure. His "middle way" seeks to carve out a "Greater Xizang" covering one quarter of China's territory — a region that has never existed historically — and thus amounts to de facto independence. This is something to which the Chinese government and people will never agree, said the spokesperson. 

Likewise, the "Tibetan government in exile" is an organized, programmatic separatist political body striving for "independence" of the region, recognized by no country, Czech included. China firmly opposes any official contacts between representatives of other countries and the Dalai Lama's group, according to the spokesperson. 

The Chinese Embassy in Czech urged the Czech side to uphold its one China commitment, take effective measures at once to eliminate the adverse impact of this incident, cease sending any wrong signals to "Xizang independence" separatist forces, and in deeds safeguard the healthy and stable development of China-Czech relations.

In response to a question that Paraguay President Santiago Pena claimed on Monday that the country is preparing to receive Taiwan's regional leader Lai Ching-te next month, and he could make stopovers in the US during the transit, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Tuesday that on the so-called “diplomatic ties” between Paraguay and China’s Taiwan region, China has made its position clear more than once. The one-China principle is a basic norm in international relations and an international consensus. Upholding the one-China principle is the right thing to do. It is where the arc of history bends and public opinion trends.

According to Reuters, Paraguay is preparing to receive Lai next month, President Santiago Pena said on Monday, and the report said it means “Lai will also most likely make transit stops in the US.” 

People from various sectors of Latin American countries, including from Paraguay, have visited China in recent years. There is a widely shared view among them that Paraguay needs to stop turning its back on China, stop being an outlier of the international community, and recognize the one-China principle and make a change in its relations with China sooner rather than later, Lin said.

We urge the current administration of Paraguay to stop going against the trend of the times, and reject being manipulated and used by “Taiwan independence” forces. It needs to listen to the aspiration of the people of Paraguay, and make the right choice that truly serves the fundamental and long-term interests of its people at an early date. We also hope that relevant Latin American and Caribbean countries will see the prevailing trend, act prudently on Taiwan-related issues, and join the big family of China-LAC friendship and cooperation at an early date, Lin noted.

The spokesperson said regarding the possible stopover in the US, China firmly opposes any form of official interactions between the US and China’s Taiwan region. “We oppose any visit to the US by leaders of the Taiwan authorities under whatever reason or pretext. The US should not in any way aid or abet “Taiwan independence” separatists and their separatist activities. The US needs to fully understand the high sensitivity of the Taiwan question, abide by the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiqués, and handle the Taiwan question with extra prudence,” said Lin.

China will continue to support Iran in safeguarding its national sovereignty and dignity, resisting power politics and bullying, defending its legitimate rights and interests through political negotiation, and adhering to the principle of good-neighborliness and friendship to continuously improve and develop relations with its neighboring countries, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Wednesday, according to the Xinhua news Agency.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks in North China's Tianjin during a meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi, who is in China for the meeting of the council of the ministers of foreign affairs of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states.

As a comprehensive strategic partner, China is willing to work with Iran to deepen mutual trust, strengthen cooperation, expand exchanges and promote the steady and long-term development of China-Iran relations, Wang said.

Araghchi thanked China for its invaluable support of Iran while also expressing support for China's role as the rotating president of the SCO and its preparations for the Tianjin Summit, according to Xinhua. 

Iran is willing to enhance high-level exchanges between the two countries, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation and continue to firmly support each other, he said.

China and Iran, as members of the Global South, are also members of BRICS as well as the SCO, said Sun Degang, director of the Center for Middle Eastern Studies at Fudan University.

He pointed out that Iran is currently in a difficult position as it comes under military pressure from the US and Israel, and China's expression of support at both the strategic and diplomatic levels holds significant importance for Iran.

According to a release from the Chinese Foreign Ministry, the ministers also exchanged their views on the Iranian nuclear issue.

Araghchi reaffirmed that Iran has absolutely no intention to develop nuclear weapons but will not give up its legitimate right to the peaceful use of nuclear energy. It is willing to resume negotiations and consultations with all parties as soon as possible on the premise of equality and respect to seek a political solution to the Iranian nuclear issue, according to Xinhua. 

Wang said that China has always opposed the use of force or the threat of force and advocates resolving differences through dialogue and consultation.

China highly values Iran's commitment not to develop nuclear weapons, respects Iran's right to the peaceful use of nuclear energy and appreciates Iran's pursuit of peace through diplomatic means. China supports Iran in maintaining the momentum of dialogue with all parties, and is willing to continue to play a constructive role in promoting the settlement of the Iranian nuclear issue and stability in the Middle East region, he noted.

According to Reuters, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the foreign ministers of France, Germany and the UK agreed in a phone call on Monday to set the end of August as the de facto deadline for reaching a nuclear deal with Iran, Axios reported, citing three sources.

The report added that if no deal is reached by that deadline, the three European powers plan to trigger the "snapback" mechanism that automatically reimposes all UN Security Council sanctions that were lifted under the 2015 Iran deal.

Liu Zhongmin, a professor from the Middle East Studies Institute at Shanghai International Studies University, told the Global Times on Wednesday that the US' military attacks combined with current Western pressure have further complicated the Iranian nuclear issue, eroding the foundation for constructive negotiations, and creating a deeply fragile and complex situation.

The situation in the Middle East is still complex and sensitive, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Wednesday in response to a question regarding the uncertainty of the ceasefire between Iran and Israel. 

China stands ready to work with the rest of the international community to advocate peace, advance a political settlement and restore peace and stability in the Middle East as soon as possible, Lin said.

This is in the common interest of countries in the region and the international community, Lin said.

A misguided notion of "peace through strength" has been gaining traction in the Middle East, reflecting a return to the law of the jungle in international politics, a trend China has repeatedly rejected, Sun said.

By once again stressing the need to resolve differences through political dialogue and negotiations and firmly opposing the use of force, China has injected a strong impetus into the pursuit of peace and stability in the Middle East, Sun added. 

Peng Liyuan, wife of Chinese President Xi Jinping, on Thursday attended the Bond with Kuliang: 2025 China-U.S. youth friendship event and delivered a speech at the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries.

Peng also watched a video about the Bond with Kuliang: 2025 China-U.S. Youth Choir Festival. Elyn MacInnis, founder of Friends of Kuliang, and Luca Berrone, Xi's friend from Iowa, shared their stories of Kuliang, as well as their experiences of China-U.S. people-to-people exchange and local cooperation. They expressed their deep affection for China and their gratitude to President Xi for his concern for the youth of both countries. They also said that they will continue contributing to promoting the U.S.-China friendship.

U.S. youth representatives shared their experiences of visiting China, and said they are willing to become new-generation friendship ambassadors, carrying forward great stories of friendship between the two countries.

In her speech, Peng said that the century-old story of Kuliang and President Xi's deep friendship with his old friends in Iowa spanning over 40 years epitomize the China-U.S. friendship.

Though the two countries have different histories, cultures and languages, the Chinese and American peoples love their families and are kind, friendly, hardworking and practical, meaning they are perfectly capable of becoming good friends and partners, she said.

Over the year since President Xi proposed China's initiative to welcome 50,000 young Americans to China for exchange and study programs over a five-year period, many young people from the United States have been invited to visit China. While gaining first-hand experience of the real China, they have made new friends and written new chapters in the China-U.S. friendship, Peng said.

Noting that youth is the future of the country, as well as the future of friendship, Peng called on young people to be the inheritors of the China-U.S. friendship, and promoters of peace and amity. She also called on them to build a bridge of friendship between the two countries, and to contribute their youthful strength to a better future for both nations.

Before the event, Peng met with MacInnis and Berrone, expressing appreciation for their longtime dedication to the cause of China-U.S. friendship. She encouraged them to continue making active efforts to enhance exchange and mutual understanding between the two peoples.

Foreign Ministry Spokesperson announces:

From July 10 to 11, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi will attend the China-ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, the ASEAN Plus Three Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, the East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and the ASEAN Regional Forum Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Torrential rains hit several parts of Yibin city, Southwest China's Sichuan Province, prompting the emergency evacuation of over 6,000 residents, according to CCTV news on Wednesday.

From 7 pm on Tuesday to 9 am on Wednesday, Yibin experienced widespread rainfall, with 44 monitoring stations recording torrential downpours, 49 stations recording heavy rain, 76 stations measuring significant rainfall, 78 stations seeing moderate rain, and 137 stations registering light rain. 

The highest recorded rainfall was 231.7 mm in a village of Xingwen county, CCTV reported.

As of 10 am on Wednesday, Yibin authorities had relocated 1,490 people from 582 households in flash flood risk zones, 4,248 from 1,411 households near geological hazard sites, 483 from six coal mines, and 71 from four households at key flood control construction sites. No casualties have been reported.

At 7 am on Wednesday, the Yibin municipal flood control headquarters activated a Level IV flood emergency response. Changning county, Jiang'an county, Gaoxian county, Xingwen county, Gongxian county, and Sanjiang New Area launched Level IV flood control measures, the city's official WeChat account said.

Several expressway entrances in Yibin were temporarily closed due to the heavy rain, according to local authorities.

Since Tuesday, torrential downpours have also battered central parts of Southwest China's Chongqing Municipality and its western regions, with eight monitoring stations recording extreme rainstorms and 97 stations reporting heavy rainstorms, according to the Xinhua News Agency.

As of 6 am on Wednesday, the city had carried out emergency evacuations for 556 people and emergency relocations for two others, with no disaster-related casualties or case of missing persons reported.

Heavy rainfall has caused six small and medium-sized rivers in Chongqing to exceed warning levels, and as of 8 am on Wednesday, the Yuxi River in Nan'an District remained above the warning level, Xinhua said.

In response to media reports that Germany claimed the Chinese military had laser-targeted a German aircraft, China's Ministry of National Defense told the Global Times on Wednesday that the allegation was completely inconsistent with the facts.

Germany summoned the Chinese ambassador to the foreign ministry on Tuesday after saying China's military had laser-targeted a German aircraft taking part in an EU operation in the Red Sea, Reuter reported.

"Putting German personnel at risk and disrupting the operation is completely unacceptable," said Germany's foreign ministry on social media platform X.

China's Ministry of National Defense noted that the allegation does not reflect the truth, saying that a Chinese naval task group was conducting an escort mission in the Gulf of Aden at the time and had no operations in the Red Sea, nor did it activate or use any laser equipment. 

"We expressed hope that Germany would respect the facts and strengthen communication and coordination with China to jointly safeguard the overall relationship between the two countries and their militaries," said the ministry.

A session of the All-China Youth Federation and a congress of the All-China Students' Federation concluded on Thursday, which outlined the work for the next five years and elected new leaderships.

During the meetings that opened on Wednesday, the work of the federations during the past five years were summarized, and arrangements for their work of the next five years as well as the federations' development and reform were made.

During the session of the All-China Youth Federation, Xu Xiao, a senior official with the Communist Youth League of China, was elected as chairperson of the federation.

At the All-China Students' Federation congress, a new committee was elected, consisting of 198 groups. The student union of Peking University was elected as the presiding group of the federation.

The gathering called on young people and students to maintain firm ideals and convictions, foster a sense of responsibility to the country, shoulder their historic mission, and strive to make their contributions to the Chinese modernization.