Survey: Strong cohesion among SCO members

A new report shows overwhelming public support across Shanghai Cooperation Organization member states for deeper regional collaboration, with over 80 percent of respondents affirming the group's positive role in global governance.

The survey also reveals broad recognition of China's development model, with over 90 percent believing that its development experience provides insights for their countries.

The findings underscore the continued relevance of the "Shanghai Spirit" and growing expectations of enhanced cooperation across a wide range of sectors, according to the survey, which was conducted across all 10 full SCO member states from March 31 to May 8, gathering more than 5,700 valid questionnaires.

It was jointly conducted by the International News Department of People's Daily and the Global Times Institute, and released at the opening ceremony of the 2025 Media Cooperation Forum of SCO Countries in Urumqi, capital of the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region.

"Media cooperation is a vital pillar of SCO collaboration. Xinjiang's strategic location and openness make it a natural choice for hosting this forum," SCO Deputy Secretary-General Sohail Khan said at the ceremony.

As a flagship event of China's SCO presidency, the forum brings together over 300 participants including representatives from mainstream media outlets, as well as government officials, scholars and business leaders. The forum, which runs until Tuesday, also underscores Xinjiang's role as a hub for high-level opening-up and China's commitment to regional cooperation.

During the forum, a five-day media workshop tour is also scheduled from Friday in Kashgar and other parts of Xinjiang, offering participants first-hand experience of the region's development and cultural diversity.

Xinjiang has witnessed closer relations with SCO members in recent years. Official figures show that from 2022 to 2024, Xinjiang's total foreign trade exceeded 400 billion yuan ($55.5 billion), with over 75 percent coming from trade with SCO countries.

In addition, Xinjiang also serves as a window for inter-civilizational exchanges. In recent years, international events such as the China-Eurasia Expo and the World Media Summit have been held in the region.

Liu Chenzi, director of the external relations department at People's Daily, said that media outlets from various countries will strengthen joint reporting and resource sharing to elevate the SCO's global voice."Innovative cooperation in new media and digital technologies to collectively address global communication challenges are key amid global challenges."

The forum also called for collaborative efforts — such as coproduced documentaries and the establishment of multilingual platforms — to advance policy coordination and people-to-people connectivity under the Belt and Road Initiative, thereby fostering a supportive public opinion environment for regional economic integration.