Hu attends SCO summit in Yekaterinburg

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-06-16 14:33

YEKATERINBURG, Russia - Chinese President Hu Jintao and leaders of other member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) met in Yekaterinburg, Russia, Tuesday to discuss economic and security issues.

Founded in 2001, the SCO consists of Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Mongolia, India, Pakistan and Iran are observers of the organization.

Leaders of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) coming for an annual SCO summit hold a smaller meeting in the Hyatt Regency Yekaterinburg Hotel, in Yekaterinburg, Russia, on June 15, 2009. [Xinhua]

At the annual summit, the leaders will discuss important issues including how to tackle the international financial crisis and how to expand cooperation in political, economic, security and other areas among its member states.

"For the first time, the leaders of SCO member states and observers will hold a small-sized group meeting, which is a new measure taken by the SCO to strengthen substantial cooperation with its observers," Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Li Hui told a press briefing last Tuesday.

Special Coverage  SCO&BRIC Summits Related readings:  Hu arrives in Russia for SCO summit, BRIC meeting  Tajik FM says security, economy two pillars of SCO  SCO sails into new era of cooperation  Economy, security top SCO agenda  SCO comes of age for regional development

He said that the summit aims to further implement the treaty of long-term neighborliness, friendship and cooperation between the SCO member states, boost regional cooperation in the sectors of politics, security, economy, cultural and people-to-people exchanges, work together to tackle the global financial and economic crisis, and promote an early economic recovery in the region.

The summit is expected to yield a joint statement as well as other cooperation documents.

In recent years, the SCO has played increasingly important role in maintaining regional security and economic development.

SCO Member States

	Kazakhstan
	China
	Kyrgyzstan
	Russia
	Tajikistan
	Uzbekistan

SCO Observer States

	India
	Iran
	Mongolia
	Pakistan

BRICs

	Brazil
	Russia
	India
	China

Related Coverage

• Official Website of 2009 SCO Summit
• Yakaterinburg, Russia
• Shanghai Cooperation Organization
• Hu Visits Five Nations
• Hu at G20 and APEC