Hu urges trust, stability, cooperation at SCO summit

President Hu Jintao on Wednesday called on leaders of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states to promote mutual trust and regional stability and cooperation, and to expand the grouping's global influence.

Chinese President Hu Jintao presides over a small-group meeting of the 12th Meeting of the Council of Heads of Member States of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Beijing, capital of China, June 6, 2012. [Pang Xinglei/Xinhua]

President Hu made the remarks while addressing a closed-door session of the SCO Beijing summit held at the Great Hall of People.

For more than 10 years, the SCO has maintained a rather stable and healthy development, achieved remarkable accomplishments in combating terrorism, and the economic, people-to-people and cultural cooperation among member states has produced substantial results, said Hu.

He added that the establishment and advancement of the SCO is in line with the common interests of the SCO members, and plays an important role in maintaining regional security and stability, as well as promoting common development.

The Chinese president also said that the international and regional situation is complex and volatile, thus bringing both opportunities and challenges to the multinational organization.

He said the member states should set their goals for the next decade, and make new progress so to bring substantial benefits to every other member and make fresh contributions to protecting peace and stability in the region and around the world.

Hu said the SCO members should improve mutual trust and mutual support, consolidate internal unity and work hard to promote peace and harmony in the region.

All members need to counter the "three evil forces" of terrorism, separatism and extremism, curb drug-trafficking, and transnational organized crimes, and send clear and concerted signals on major issues within the region and of the surrounding areas, said Hu.

He added that all members should step up their support for each other on issues concerning core interests, including sovereignty territorial integrity, national security, social stability, and the path of development.

The Chinese president said the SCO countries should work hard to materialize common prosperity. Their cooperation should focus on the four key areas of finance, energy, food, and transportation.

By raising the quality and benefits of their respective economies through effective cooperation, all members can promote their ability to resist risks and global competitiveness, he added.

He also said the SCO should strive to expand its global influence and strengthen its ties with other international and regional institutions.

Leaders of other SCO member states agreed that the SCO has played a key role in promoting cooperation, jointly confronting dangers and challenges, as well as maintaining regional security and stability.

They also agreed that all members should improve cooperation in trade, food, energy security, infrastructure and law-enforcement security, explore new ways of financing, and improve their quick-reaction ability.

All leaders expressed concern about the situation in Afghanistan, and hoped the country can restore peace, stability and development at an early date.

They also discussed the Syrian situation and the Iranian nuclear issue, and urged political solutions to these problems.

The session was also attended by Russian President Vladimir Putin, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambayev, Uzbek President Islam Karimov and Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev.