Chinese President Hu Jintao said on Tuesday that the Shanghai
Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit meeting on June 15 in
Shanghai is expected to be a success.
"During the summit, the heads of the SCO member states will have
in-depth exchanges of views on mutually beneficial cooperation and
sign important documents," Hu said in an interview in Beijing with
journalists from the six SCO member states.
The heads of state of the SCO member countries will attend the
summit meeting, along with observers and representatives from
countries and international organizations that have established
cooperative relations with the SCO.
The summit will review the developments of the organization
since it was established five years ago, analyze international and
regional situations, study the organization's future development
and outline cooperation plans.
"This will help build a harmonious region with sustainable
development and common prosperity," Hu said.
Hu hailed the sound development of the organization in the past
five years, citing fruitful cooperation among the member states in
terms of politics, security, trade, culture and international
affairs.
He attributed the rapid growth of the SCO to the "Shanghai
Spirit" of mutual trust and benefit, equality, consultation,
respect for cultural diversity and desire for common
development.
"Although there are big differences among the SCO member states
in ideology, culture and level of economic development, the reason
why the SCO has made such rapid progress and outstanding
achievements lies in our insistence on the Shanghai Spirit," Hu
proclaimed.
He added that the Chinese government has played its part by
establishing and developing the SCO through a close working
relationship with other member states to boost mutual trust and
trade cooperation.
"China will make joint efforts with the other countries to lift
bilateral relations to a new high and promote new progress for the
SCO," Hu promised.
He hailed the joint anti-terrorism exercises conducted by the
SCO, adding that they will strengthen their capability to combat
terrorism and maintain regional peace.
He also noted that China has allocated US$900 million worth of
loans for SCO members. The loans are in the form of preferential
buyers credits for SCO member states that purchase Chinese
exports.
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Established in 2001, the SCO comprises China, Kazakhstan,
Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. In 2004 and 2005, it
accepted Mongolia, Iran, Pakistan and India as observers.
(Xinhua News Agency May 31, 2006)