Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Young and Middle-Aged Military Officers Visit Changsha
Discussing Defense Cooperation Together, Jointly Charting a Blueprint for Development — Observations from the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Young and Middle-Aged Military Officers Exchange Visit to Changsha
■ PLA Daily Correspondent Zhang Dan; Special Correspondents Fang Shuyang and Zhang Yue
Recently, the Second SCO Young and Middle-Aged Military Officers Exchange Activity, hosted by the Ministry of National Defense and organized by the National University of Defense Technology, was held. Young and middle-aged military officers, defense officials, and SCO Secretariat representatives from 16 countries — including SCO member states, observer states, and dialogue partners — gathered together. Through visits, thematic seminars, and field inspections, they discussed defense and security cooperation, jointly charted a blueprint for development, and actively promoted the high-quality development of SCO defense and security cooperation toward greater unity and vitality.
Discussing Security Together —
Building Consensus and Deepening Mutual Trust
"In the course of the SCO's development, defense and security cooperation plays a special and important role." This was the common consensus among the visiting foreign military officers.
During the activity, experts from the Academy of Military Sciences, the National Defense University, and the National University of Defense Technology delivered lectures on themes including "Practicing the 'Shanghai Spirit' (上海精神) and Building an SCO Community with a Shared Future" and "The Four Global Initiatives and Regional Defense and Security Cooperation." Representatives from various countries engaged in in-depth exchanges of views and shared valuable experiences in light of their own countries' military-building practices.
"Faced with a complex and severe international situation and endless security challenges, only through unity and cooperation can we effectively safeguard fairness, justice, and regional peace and stability." Russian officer Vasily stated during the exchange session that upholding multilateralism requires multilateral mechanisms, including the SCO, to play their role. At present, the SCO's voice is growing, and it is playing an increasingly important role in regional public security.
Since the SCO's founding, the Chinese military has always been an active driver of regional defense cooperation. From deeply participating in high-level mechanisms such as the Defense Ministers' Meeting and the Chiefs of General Staff Meeting, to hosting and actively participating in the "Peace Mission" series of joint exercises and the "Peace Melody" Military Band Festival, to broadly carrying out exchanges in specialized fields such as military medicine and military transportation, to being the first to propose and continuously hosting the Senior Officers Seminar, the Young and Middle-Aged Military Officers Exchange Activity, and the "SCO+" Youth Think Tank Salon — the Chinese military has continuously deepened friendship and mutual trust with member states' militaries through concrete actions.
After listening to the thematic lectures, Cambodian officer Seysei, who had previously studied in China, said: "Cambodia, as an ASEAN country, has always been actively committed to participating in regional cooperation mechanisms. Today, the SCO has expanded to 10 member states, and Cambodia has also become a dialogue partner. I hope more developing countries will be able to join such organizations to strengthen their own voice in international affairs."
Sharing Science and Technology Together —
Experiencing Innovation and Inspiring the Future
A military academy is an important window for observing a military's philosophy of talent cultivation and innovative vitality. During the activity, foreign young and middle-aged military officers entered the teaching, research, and cultural facilities of the National University of Defense Technology, experiencing up close the university's deep academic heritage, distinctive educational characteristics, and vigorous innovative vitality.
Before the blinking indicator lights of the "Tianhe" supercomputer room, and beside the demonstration screens for modern technologies such as the BeiDou satellite navigation system and magnetic levitation technology, foreign young and middle-aged military officers stopped to listen and asked detailed questions. In the physical simulation laboratory for ocean dynamics, the different water wave patterns simulated in the water tank aroused the keen interest of Belarusian officer Maxim; at the Circuit and Testing Technology Laboratory, visiting officers put on VR headsets to experience the application of virtual reality simulation systems — this teaching method left a deep impression on everyone.
"Technological development is closely linked to the cause of peace." In a thematic seminar on the development and application of artificial intelligence, Armenian officer Kenkush held that "within the SCO framework, countries strengthening exchanges and cooperation on artificial intelligence technology will certainly powerfully promote coordinated development."
Standing before the message board in the National University of Defense Technology library, Laotian officer Phanthasong wrote in Chinese characters: "The friendship between Laos and China will last forever" (老中友谊万古长青). "Although we come from different countries and speak different languages, as a new generation of soldiers, safeguarding peace is our shared belief and responsibility," Phanthasong said. "Faced with various new types of security challenges, our generation bears an inescapable responsibility. The Lao military also attaches great importance to science and technology development, and we hope to have more cooperation with the National University of Defense Technology in the future."
Creating the Future Together —
Perceiving Development and Moving Forward Hand in Hand
The Xiang River flows northward; at the tip of Orange Isle, the serene and distant Yuelu Mountain and glittering skyscrapers face each other across the river. Visiting Yuelu Academy to appreciate its historical heritage, touring popular commercial districts to feel the pulse of the city… Foreign guests immersed themselves in the unique charm of the blending of tradition and modernity in this "Star City" (星城) with three thousand years of history.
On Huangxing South Road Pedestrian Street, Uzbek officer Gayratovich carefully selected Chinese zodiac handicrafts featuring the "dragon" motif. "The 'dragon' symbolizes China. Thanks to cooperation through the SCO, the Belt and Road Initiative, and other frameworks, more and more Uzbek people are learning about Chinese culture. I will bring these handicrafts back as gifts for family and friends — they will certainly love them," said Gayratovich.
The canvas of Chinese-style modernization (中国式现代化) is spread not only across the city skyline but also painted across the vast fields. Foreign young and middle-aged military officers traveled by vehicle to Chunhua Town in Changsha County to conduct field inspections of achievements in modern agricultural development, including intelligent seedling cultivation, digital farmland, and grain production. As soon as they got off the vehicles, everyone was drawn to the specialty crops laid out by local farmers. After tasting freshly picked lotus seeds, many exclaimed, "So fresh!"
It was the season of rice heading, and the verdant rice paddies stretched as far as the eye could see. Touching the heavy ears of rice, everyone took group photos as souvenirs. Just as the foreign young and middle-aged military officers were being drawn to green agricultural facilities such as intelligent spore monitors and solar-powered insect-killing lamps, a local farmer operated a drone that rose into the air to carry out precision fertilization operations. Egyptian officer El-Welely quickly took out his phone to photograph and record the scene. El-Welely stated that the prospects for Egypt-China agricultural modernization cooperation are broad, and he hopes the two countries can move forward hand in hand on the path of modernization.
(PLA Daily, Changsha, June 28)