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SCO Tashkent summit concludes

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-06-11 19:59

Leaders at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) pose for a family photo in Tashkent June 11, 2010. (L-R) Kazakhstan's President Nursultan Nazarbayev, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, Uzbek President Islam Karimov, Chinese President Hu Jintao and Tajikistan's President Imomali Rakhmon. [Agencies]

TASHKENT - Leaders of the six-nation Shanghai Cooperation Organization concluded their annual summit here Friday, agreeing to enhance cooperation and maintain regional stability.

During the summit, the leaders and representatives exchanged views on a wide range of regional and international issues.

They discussed the SCO Secretary General's report and one on SCO regional anti-terrorism efforts. They also set future tasks for the organization.

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The summit approved two important draft documents including the SCO Rules of Procedure, which was designed to enhance the efficiency and internal mechanisms of the organization.

The second draft concerned regulations on the admission procedure for new members, which was submitted by SCO foreign ministers last month in Tashkent.

The two documents, designed to improve the legal basis of the organization and to raise its authority and influence in regional issues, are regarded as quite significant in the history of the SCO.

Before the summit, some Chinese diplomats said approval of the admission regulations was the first step in forming the basis for a future expansion of SCO membership and would serve as a cornerstone of the organization's rules for external links.

The Tashkent declaration issued at the end of the summit stressed the importance of constructive dialogues and cooperation among the SCO member states.

The SCO member states reiterated in the joint declaration that the situation in Kyrgyzstan bears great influence on regional stability, adding that they are willing to provide essential support and aid.

The SCO members also agreed to further enhance their cooperation in combating the "three evil forces," namely terrorism, separatism and extremism, as well as illegal drug trade and organized transnational crime.

The member states also vowed to work collectively in continuing to minimize the impact of the global financial crisis and to promote economic development.

The summit also witnessed the signing of two agreements on cooperation in agriculture and combating crime.

To mark the 10-year anniversary of the organization, it was agreed among the member states to hold a celebration when the next SCO annual summit convenes in the Kazakh capital of Astana.

In addition to the heads of states from China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, the summit also saw the participation of delegates from Kyrgyzstan, as well as the leaders and representatives of Mongolia, India, Pakistan and Iran, countries holding SCO observer status.

Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai also attended the summit as a guest of the SCO along with representatives of the UN and other regional and international agencies.

The SCO groups China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.