Strategic Orientation and Prospects of SCO

The maturing Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) now has the potential to become an important stabilizer for Eurasia.As a multilateral international mechanism,the SCO should base its core values on a "Eurasian Doctrine." Such a doctrine should take Eurasia as a single geopolitical region,a united geo-economic space and a broad platform for multiple cultural exchanges. The SCO’s future agenda should include: further development as a multi-function political,economic and security organization; expansion from a Central Asia-based sub-continental cooperation organization to a Eurasian cooperation community (with countries like India,Pakistan,Mongolia,Afghanistan and Iran becoming new members) with a new "Eurasian doctrine" defining its core values. Over the past decade since its establishment,the SCO has gradually shaped its security ideas,constructed its system of organization,and developed cooperation in various areas,thus expanding its influence in the modern international system. In the long term,however,the SCO should not only remain a sub-continental security and economic cooperation organization,but should develop into a stabilizing influence to sustain prosperity,stability,and peaceful coexistence throughout the Eurasian continent.