Shanghai Cooperation Organization playing ever bigger role

"The Shanghai Cooperation Organization has grown rapidly in the past few years and has become an important link in the contemporary international relations," Tajik President Emomali Rakhmon said in a recent interview with Chinese media.

The SCO, comprising China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, was established on June 15, 2001 in Shanghai.

In the past seven years, it has gradually become an efficient mechanism for maintaining its member states' common benefits and promoting their mutually-beneficial cooperation.

It has also grown into a major force in facilitating the realization of lasting peace, common advancement and has made crucial contributions to the establishment of a more just and rational international order.



"SHANGHAI SPIRIT" LAYS FOUNDATION FOR NEW RELATIONS AMONG COUNTRIES

The SCO's predecessor, the Shanghai Five Mechanism, originated and grew from the endeavor by China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgystanand Tajikistan to strengthen confidence building and disarmament in their border regions.

The Treaty on Deepening Military Trust in Border Regions and the Treaty on Reduction of Military Forces in Border Regions signed during the period of the "Shanghai Five Mechanism" have paved the way for terminating the Cold War in the region and launching regional friendly cooperation.

Last year, heads of state of the SCO inked the Treaty on Long-term Good-neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation at a summit in Bishkek, putting the notion of "friendship from generation to generation and lasting peace" in a legal framework.

The Shanghai Spirit, which embodies mutual trust and benefits, equality, respect for cultural diversity and a desire for common development, has since been well recognized.

Kazakh Vice Foreign Minister Nurlan Baiuzakovich Yermekbayev said the new model of relations among countries established by theSCO determines the future outlook of the region.

"The SCO has been recognized as our shared home," he added.



NEW SECURITY CONCEPT MAINTAINS REGIONAL HARMONY

Since its establishment, the SCO has always viewed safeguarding security and stability as one of its major missions.

At a summit in 2006, the SCO also listed mutual trust and benefit, equality and mutual respect as the core elements of the framework of the new global security mechanism.

Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev said the SCO members have joined hands in cracking down on the "three evil forces" of terrorism, separatism and extremism as well as transnational organized crime, having played a key role in maintaining regional peace and stability.

Moreover, the SCO has demonstrated to the world its ability to address regional and international challenges and serve as a key pillar in the future multipolar world, Bakiyev added.



ECONOMIC AND TRADE COOPERATION ON HIGH GEAR

The Outline of Multilateral Economic and Trade Cooperation Among Member States signed by prime ministers of the SCO at a summit in 2003 holds great significance to the development of the organization, said Sun Zhuangzhi, an expert on central Asia and the SCO.

Sun said the signing of the document indicated that economy and security have become two key areas of cooperation for the SCO members, serving as the "dual wheels" pushing the organization forward.

Tajik President Rakhmon said the establishment of the Entrepreneurs' Committee and the Bank Syndicate was a crucial step for multilateral cooperation.

Apart from fighting terrorism, separatism, extremism, drug-trafficking and illegal immigration, the SCO should expand economic and trade cooperation and tap the potential of business opportunities.



INTERNATIONAL INFLUENCE INCREASING

In recent years, the SCO has accepted Mongolia, Pakistan, Iran and India as observers, established contact group relation with Afghanistan and got observer status in the United Nations General Assembly.

The SCO has also stepped up cooperation with such organizations as the UN Economic and Social Council, the Commonwealth of Independent States and the ASEAN.

The 8th annual summit of the SCO will be held in the Tajik capital of Dushanbe on Aug. 28.

The summit is the most important event for the SCO this year, and is significant for safeguarding regional and international security and stability, maintaining lasting peace and promoting regional prosperity and harmony.

At the upcoming summit, heads of state of SCO member states will sign the Regulations on SCO Dialogue Partner Status, which will be another major step taken by the group in the field of foreign diplomacy since it established the observer mechanism in 2004 and will lay the foundation for the SCO to cooperate with more countries and international organizations.

"I hope that more countries and international organizations would establish close ties with the SCO," Rakhmon said.

"Tajikistan is fully confident in the broad prospects of the SCO," the president added.

Source:Xinhua