SCO meeting concludes

cctv.com 10-28-2005 13:44

Premier Wen Jiabao has returned from Moscow, after attending the fourth heads of government meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. During the two-day event, leaders reviewed the group's achievements and set out new proposals and agreements for its future development.

Four years after it was founded, the regional group is emerging as an important international institution.

This week's meeting of the prime ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization has given it another impetus for development.

Different from previous talks, the leaders focused on the economic issues this time.

On behalf of the Chinese government, Premier Wen Jiabao offered his insights.

Wen said, "We have made remarkable progress. The goals set by the organization will surely be realized as long as member states work together and endeavor to implement agreements."

Later in his speech, Wen proposed five measures concerning economic cooperation, which envisage good policy, better infrastructure, closer agricultural cooperation and increased regional and international exchanges.

Ruan Zongze, Vice President of China Institute of Int’l Studies, said, "In order to achieve such goals, a lot of basic work needs to be done, for example, to improve the int'l transportation systems, to improve the infrastructure to make the highways link the countries, and to improve the market access. Of course, one of the principles for all these economic and trade cooperation are equality and mutual benefit. "

Wen's proposals were echoed by other SCO leaders. Highlighting the importance of economic cooperation, they released a joint communique with implementation plans to improve investment and trade.

The prime ministers also agreed on the creation of a joint development fund and broadening cooperation in areas such as disaster relief and oil exploration.

Andrey A. Kokoshin, Chairman of Committee for CIS Affairs, said, "The SCO has entered a new stage, and is playing a positive role in promoting trade and economic cooperation. In the future, more countries are likely to join in, and that will bring more opportunities and will be beneficial to the region."

Again, Mongolia, Iran, Pakistan and India attended the meeting as observers. China and Russia were the initiators of this regional group. Four Central Asian countries - Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan - form the other members states.

The next SCO prime ministers' meeting is scheduled in Tajikistan next year.

Editor:Chen Zhuo  Source:CCTV.com