Chinese President Xi Jinping addresses a banquet held for guests attending the 18th Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in
Chinese President Xi Jinping hosted a dinner on Saturday evening to welcome guests who gather in the coastal city of
"It is such a pleasure to have you with us here in
"I wish to extend, on behalf of the Chinese government and people and in my own name, a very warm welcome to all of you, particularly the state leaders and heads of international organizations who have come to attend the meeting of the Council of Heads of Member States of the SCO," he said.
Its emphasis on unity and harmony has much in common with the Shanghai Spirit, namely, mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, consultation, respect for diverse civilizations and pursuit of common development, he said.
"The Shanghai Spirit's focus on seeking common ground while setting aside differences and pursuing mutually beneficial cooperation has won widespread international endorsement and support," the Chinese president said.
Guided by the Shanghai Spirit, the SCO has delivered fruitful outcomes in security, economic and cultural cooperation and made historic strides in institution building, he said.
With eight member states, four observer states and six dialogue partners, the SCO has become an important force for upholding regional security, promoting common development and improving global governance, Xi said.
"
"The
After the dinner, Xi and the guests watched an artistic performance of lights and fireworks with the theme of "A Warm Welcome to Friends from Afar."
Xi and foreign leaders had a group photo taken ahead of the dinner.