Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao met in Beijing Tuesday with the prime ministers of four other members of the six-member Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) respectively.

They were Kazakh Prime Minister Daniyal Akhmetov, Kyrgyz Prime Minister Nikolai Tanayev, Tajik Prime Minister Akil Akilov and Uzbek Prime Minister Utkur Sultanov.

Wen said China and the four nations were neighbors geographically, friends politically and partners economically.

Since they forged diplomatic ties, friendly cooperative relations had developed rapidly. They had supported each other in major international issues, cooperated effectively in combating terrorism, separatism and extremism, and maintained regional security, he said.

Wen said the meetings between Chinese President Hu Jintao and the four presidents in the first half year had enhanced relations.

China appreciated the four nations' support on the Taiwan issue, the Tibet issue and combating East Turkestan, he said.

Wen said China would support the four nations in safeguarding sovereignty, territorial integrity, economic development and regional security.

China valued economic cooperation, especially in energy resources, and was willing to work with the four nations in expanding cooperative fields and exploring new ways of economic cooperation.

He said the meeting of the SCO prime ministers was successful and significant for expanding regional economic cooperation.

The success of the SCO since it was established two years ago showed the path that the six members chose at that time was correct, Wen said.

With a united effort, the SCO showed huge potential and bright prospects, Wen said.

The four prime ministers spoke highly of the consultations and said they would make positive efforts to implement the SCO program on multi-lateral economic and trade cooperation signed here Tuesday and further economic and trade cooperation with China.

Akhmetov said it was of strategic significance for Kazakhstan and China to cooperate in oil and natural gas development.

Tanayev said Kyrgyzstan hoped to sign an overall cooperation program with China and cooperate in railway and highway construction, electricity and merchandise distribution.

Akilov said Tajikistan had cooperated with China as a priority for its foreign economic and trade relations, and hoped to cooperate with China in the construction of port infrastructure, water conservancy projects, and mining.

Sultanov said Uzbekistan-China economic and trade relations had expanded to economic, technological and investment cooperation, and his country hoped to strengthen bilateral cooperation in communications, transportation, energy, science and technology.

Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov will pay an official visit to China on Sept. 24 and 25 for the eighth regular meeting of the two countries' prime ministers.
 
(Xinhua News Agency September 24, 2003)