SCO Beijing summit concludes

BEIJING - The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) concluded its Beijing summit on Thursday at the Great Hall of the People, with member states agreeing to further cooperation in a variety of fields.

The summit is pivotal for the future development of the SCO, as it is being held at a time when the organization is entering its next decade of existence, said President Hu Jintao when delivering a keynote speech at the summit.

The SCO has achieved remarkable accomplishments in its first 10 years, Hu said. In that time, member states of the SCO have adhered to the "Shanghai Spirit" and signed the Treaty on Long-term Good-neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation.

They have promoted the ideal of lasting peace and friendship, which has been widely accepted and supported by people of all member states, he said, adding that the organization's international prestige and influence has also grown significantly.

The Chinese president said the international and regional situation has been complex and volatile, thus bringing many uncertainties to the regional situation.

Only when SCO member states enhance cooperation and remain united can they effectively cope with emerging challenges, safeguard regional peace and achieve common development, he said.

Noting that the SCO is standing at a new starting point, Hu said the member states should set a new development goal for the next decade and make detailed plans for implementation so as to ensure the development of the organization, bring substantial benefits to all members and make fresh contributions to peace and stability in the region and around the world.

The president made a four-point proposal for the future development of the organization.

He called on the member states to make joint efforts to build the SCO into a harmonious community, a fortress of regional security and stability and a driving force to boost regional economic development, as well as an effective platform for increasing international exchanges and influence.

He said China is ready to work with all member states to comprehensively carry out the agreements reached at the summit, push forward cooperation within the SCO and jointly contribute to the future development of the organization.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said the SCO should enhance security cooperation, deepen economic cooperation, encourage people-to-people exchanges and open itself up to outside parties and international organizations.

Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev, Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambayev, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon and Uzbek President Islam Karimov also addressed the summit on Thursday.

Leaders and officials from the four SCO observer countries of Mongolia, Iran, Pakistan and India, as well as Turkmenistan President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov and Afghan President Hamid Karzai, also delivered speeches at the meeting.

SCO Secretary-General Muratbek Imanaliev and officials from the Regional Anti-Terrorism Structure of the SCO (RATS), the United Nations, Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), Euroasian Economic Community and Collective Security Treaty Organization also attended the summit.

At the meeting, all participants exchanged views on the Afghanistan conflict and the Iranian nuclear issue.

The SCO decided to grant Afghanistan observer status and accept Turkey as a dialogue partner.

The member states of the SCO adopted 10 agreements on Thursday, including the Declaration on Building a Region with Lasting Peace and Common Prosperity, the Strategic Plan for the Medium-Term Development of the SCO, and the SCO Regulations on Political and Diplomatic Measures and Mechanism of Response to Events Jeopardizing Regional Peace, Security and Stability.

The SCO was founded in Shanghai on June 15, 2001, and currently has six full members - China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

The 2013 SCO summit will be held in Kyrgyzstan.