(Shanghai, 15 June 2006)

The heads of state of member states of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO)-the Republic of Kazakhstan, the People's Republic of China, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Russian Federation, the Republic of Tajikistan and the Republic of Uzbekistan, met in Shanghai on 15 June 2006 and made the following statement:

The rapid development and extensive application of new information communication technology (ICT) is one of the most important features of the world today. Prevalent in all areas of human activities, ICT has formed a global information system that has a direct impact on all aspects of national security, including politics, economy, national defense and culture, and even on the entire international security and stability system. Information system is becoming an important stimulant of social vitality, and information is the most valuable wealth and most important political and economic resource of a country.

The heads of state believe that ICT opens up huge potentials for human development and their enjoyment of rights and freedoms to a fuller extent. It offers more possibilities and means to ensure effective operation of the society in all countries and to establish a global partnership for sustainable development, security and prosperity.

Meanwhile, the heads of state express concern over the immediate threat of using ICT for the following purposes: to undermine the basic principles of equality, mutual respect, non-interference in the internal affairs of sovereign states, peaceful settlement of disputes, non-use of force and respect of human rights, and to bring serious harm to individual, social and national security. Moreover, in both civil and military fields, there is the possible danger of using ICT for criminal, terrorist, military and political purposes that run counter to the maintenance of international security, which will cause serious political, social and economic consequences to countries and regions, or even the entire world, and trigger social instability in countries.

The heads of state point out useful efforts have been made by all countries to enhance information security. They also believe that the negative impact of the use of ICT in a destructive way by criminals including terrorists, their gangs and organizations, and even some countries for military and political purposes, is extensive, affecting other countries and sometimes even the whole world. The use of ICT for the above-mentioned purposes may cause a catastrophe for the entire world tantamount to that resulted from the use of weapons of mass destruction.

The heads of state emphasize that ICT should not only act as a carrier in the information world, but also, more importantly, promote closer ties and better integration among diversified cultures and civilizations. In this process, religious beliefs and traditions of people of all countries, the SCO's member states included, should be respected.

The heads of state also emphasize that the transnational nature of ICT and current threats and challenges make it imperative for all countries to step up their efforts on information security through bilateral, regional and international cooperation. Only with well-coordinated and complementary measures taken by all countries, can the current challenges and threats to information security be effectively dealt with.

In view of this, the heads of state support the United Nations in its relevant efforts, including analyzing the existing and potential threats in the field of information security, taking collective actions to eliminate these threats and studying the relevant international proposals aimed at strengthening security of the global information and communication system, and deem it important to continue these efforts.

The heads of state welcome Resolution 60/45 Development in the Field of Information and Telecommunications in the Context of International Security adopted by the 60th session of the UN General Assembly on 8 December 2005, and express their willingness to promote the implementation of the proposals set forth in the Resolution.

The heads of state declare that the member states hold similar positions on key issues concerning international information security and wish to work in concert to take up new information challenges and threats within the framework of the SCO. In this process, they will abide by the international law, including the norms and principles of the UN Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. With this in mind, the heads of state have decided to establish an international information security expert group among the SCO member states, consisting of representatives of the SCO Secretariat and the Executive Committee of the SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure, to formulate a plan of action for international information security and define ways and means to solve problems concerning international information security within the framework of the SCO.