FM: Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit to focus on security, economy

The Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit will focus on security, economics and cultural cooperation.

Heads of state attending the summit will lay out the major tasks for the next phase on promoting SCO cooperation on security, economics, culture and foreign affairs, according to a senior official of the ministry in a written statement when briefing President Hu Jintao's upcoming foreign tour of three nations and the summit.

National leaders attending the summit will exchange views on current major international and regional issues and discuss how to resolutely strike the three forces of terrorism, extremism and separatism through intensive coordination. They will also promote the integrity of SCO member nations through free trade and facilitated investment.

The major task of this year's summit was to consolidate mutual trust, strengthen unity, deepen cooperation and promote development, said the official. He added the summit, the most important program of SCO this year, was of great significance to international and regional peace and stability and in building a harmonious region of lasting peace and common prosperity.

The six heads of state attending the summit will sign a political document on SCO members' common position on a series of major international and regional issues and the regulations on dialogue partner status. They will also issue a joint communique on the achievements of the summit, and sign some other cooperation documents on security and economy.

The regulations on dialogue partner status will help expand SCO's links and cooperation with more nations and international organizations.

"I believe the summit in Dushanbe will surely effectively promote peace and stability in the region and be an important meeting to expand the organization's influence and deepen practical cooperation in various fields," the official added.

The SCO summit will be held in Dushanbe, the Tajikistan capital, on Aug. 28.

The SCO, founded in 2001, groups China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. The SCO accepted Mongolia as an observer to the organization in 2004 and offered observer status to Pakistan, Iran and India in 2005.

Source: Xinhua