ISLAMABAD - Under China's rotating presidency, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is placing a strong focus on defending multilateralism and promoting a fair, WTO-centered global trade system, SCO Secretary-General Nurlan Yermekbayev said in a recent exclusive interview with Xinhua in Islamabad.

Yermekbayev emphasized that the SCO is firmly committed to building a transparent, open, democratic, and lawful international trading system with the World Trade Organization (WTO) playing a central role.

"We respect the sovereign rights of countries to shape their development paths, but we stand firmly in favor of fair and sustainable trade systems that benefit all," he said.

The secretary-general also highlighted the active leadership demonstrated by China since assuming the rotating presidency in 2024, calling it "very meaningful, rich in content and highly dynamic."

The SCO's focus under China's chairmanship extends beyond trade. Yermekbayev stressed that the chair's motto - "Carrying forward the Shanghai Spirit: SCO in Action" - reflects both the respect for founding principles and a push for practical cooperation.