China's leading newspaper, the People's Daily, on Friday hailed the success of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit, saying it concluded with set goals for closer cooperation to achieve common development among member states.

The newspaper called the meeting a significant one of unprecedented large scale that had attracted world attention. The heads of state or representatives of all the member countries and observer countries as well as related international organizations. United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan sent a message of congratulations for the convening of the summit.

"This fully demonstrated the wide international influence and vitality of the SCO," the paper says in an editorieal.

The SCO, established five years ago, comprises China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Mongolia, Pakistan, Iran and India are observers of the organization.

When the heads of state of the member countries met here again to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the SCO, they all expressed their determination to push forward the development of the organization after a historic leap forward on the basis of its predecessor -- the "Shanghai Spirit" which features mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, consultation, respect for multi- civilizations and pursuit of common development.

The successful experience of the SCO can be condensed to one point, that is to unswervingly advocate and practice the "Shanghai Spirit" of mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, respect for cultural diversity and a desire for common development, says the editorial.

The "Shanghai Spirit," as the most important code of conduct of the SCO, enriches the theory and practice of contemporary international relations and embodies the shared aspiration of the international community for realizing democracy in international relations, it says, adding the spirit is therefore of vital importance to the international community's pursuit of a new model of international relations.

A major achievement of the summit is that all heads of state reached a consensus that the organization will continue to devote themselves to the establishment of a new global security architecture of mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality and mutual respect, says the editorial.

The SCO will seek to settle disputes through negotiations on the basis of mutual understanding and the widely recognized principles of international law. The SCO respects the right of all countries to safeguard national unity and national interests, pursue particular models of development and formulate domestic and foreign policies independently, and participate in international affairs on an equal basis. The SCO also respects and upholds diversity of civilization and development patterns.

The past practice proved that the SCO is a major power to maintain regional and world peace, stability and prosperity. Yet it still faces great challenges and heavy tasks in the future, the editorial says.

However, as long as the SCO member states adhere to the " Shanghai Spirit" to deepen cooperation, the organization will sure bring more benefits to all the people in the region and make greater contribution to world peace and development.