Group 1 - The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is pushing for the establishment of a development bank to enhance economic cooperation and security among member states [2][3] - The idea of creating the SCO development bank was first proposed 15 years ago, but geopolitical tensions have now made its establishment more critical for reducing reliance on Western financial institutions [2][3] - The bank aims to provide financial support for cross-border infrastructure projects, thereby facilitating trade and investment among member countries [3][4] Group 2 - The establishment of the SCO development bank is expected to enhance financial autonomy for member states, allowing them to avoid the political conditions imposed by traditional Western-dominated financial institutions [3][4] - The bank will promote the use of local currencies in transactions, reducing dependence on the US dollar and euro, and increasing the influence of the Chinese yuan in the region [4][5] - The SCO development bank is seen as a tool to strengthen energy cooperation among member countries, particularly with resource-rich nations like Russia and Kazakhstan, ensuring stable energy supplies for economic development [4][5]