The "Shanghai Five" mechanism has played an important role in promoting good-neighborly relations among China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, as well as in safeguarding regional stability, a social scientist said Wednesday in Shanghai.
In an interview with Xinhua, Pan Guang, head of the "Shanghai Five" Research Center under the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, said that the mechanism also provides a new mode for state-to-state relations, a new concept of security and a new way for regional cooperation.
The upcoming sixth summit of "Shanghai Five" is scheduled to discuss its future development in the 21st century. Therefore, the summit meeting is viewed as a milestone for the mechanism, professor Pan said.
Founded early this year, the research center consists of more than 50 experts on international issues who specialize in ethnic groups, religions and natural resources.
The further development of the "Shanghai Five" mechanism will have an important bearing on political, economic and cultural cooperation among China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, the professor said.
(Xinhua 06/13/2001)
