(China Daily)
Updated: 2007-08-16 07:05

Editor's note: Before the summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization which opens today in Bishkek, China Daily reporter Su Qiang interviewed Bolat Nurgaliev, who took over as SCO secretary-general last year.

Q: A treaty on long-term good-neighborliness, friendship and cooperation among SCO member states will be signed during the summit. Can you elaborate on that?

A: The treaty is one of the key documents to be signed during the summit. It is aimed at developing and strengthening SCO members' long-term cooperation in all aspects.

It also includes collaboration between the SCO and other international organizations in trade and economy, culture, environmental protection and utilization of natural resources.

Q: What effects will the new treaty have upon the SCO and its member states?

A: The charter of the SCO makes it clear that the basic principles and mission are strengthening mutual trust and friendship, and developing cooperation in all fields. The treaty will provide member states with a legal foundation for strengthening their cooperation.

The Bishkek Declaration, another key document to be signed during the summit, will include the SCO's perspective on the current world situation, key international issues and the SCO's development.

Another agreement will also be signed during the Bishkek summit to increase cooperation among the bankers and entrepreneurs in member states. It will help provide funds for experimental projects and cooperation in other projects.

Q: What achievements has the SCO made in fighting terrorism, separatism and extremism?

A: Fighting the three evil forces within the framework of the SCO is a comprehensive project. The Regional Anti-Terrorism Agency of the SCO has played a big role in coordinating the fight against terrorism in the region.

Since its establishment, the agency has destroyed training bases for terrorist organizations, detained dozens of people who are wanted worldwide because of their involvement in terrorist activities, and thwarted many terror attempts.

By participating in the joint anti-terror military drill, the member states will learn how to work more closely to fight against terrorism, even under extreme circumstances. However, the threat from the three evil forces is not decreasing. Therefore, it is a long fight.

Q: There have been discussions on increasing energy cooperation within the SCO member states. What progress has been made in this regard?

A: Huge progress has been made in energy cooperation among the SCO member states, with a host of projects implemented or being implemented.

Currently we are drafting a plan for more cooperation, which includes the better implementation of the Program of Multilateral Trade and Economic Cooperation of SCO Member States. The program emphasizes the improvement of energy production capability, exploration of oil and natural gas, and construction of pipelines and electricity infrastructure.

A special working group has been discussing specific joint projects. Recently, the chiefs of energy authorities from the six member states met in Moscow to discuss the possibility of establishing an energy club with the SCO framework and other means of energy collaboration.

Q: How has the SCO cooperated with other international organizations?

A: The SCO has already established a cooperation mechanism in an effort to share experiences with other international bodies and signed agreements with international organizations such as the ASEAN, the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and the Eurasian Economic Community (EEC).

The SCO is also drafting similar agreements with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation and the Collective Security Treaty Organization.

The SCO has cooperated with the CIS in economic and cultural areas as well as fighting against the three evil forces, cross-border crimes, and drug and weapon trafficking.

Q: As the situation in Afghanistan is worsening, how will the SCO-Afghanistan Contact Group help curb violence and rebuild the country?

A: The SCO has been closely watching the development of the situation in Afghanistan and always wishes to cooperate with Afghanistan in fighting terrorism, separatism, extremism and drug trafficking.

Our cooperation with Afghanistan is conducted within the framework of the SCO-Afghanistan Contact Group, which consists of representatives of the member states in the Secretariat and representatives from the Afghan embassy in Beijing.

Those representatives have regular meetings to discuss the development of the Afghan situation and agree that negotiations are the only way to undertake such cooperation. Fighting against drug trafficking is one of the main areas of cooperation between the SCO and Afghanistan.

The SCO didn't and won't ignore the problems in our neighboring countries. SCO member states agreed to set up programs in which Afghanistan is interested, such as the Central Asia transport corridor and energy projects.

(China Daily 08/16/2007 page2)