SCO sails into new era of cooperation

By Xinhua Writers Hai Yang, Liu Yang

MOSCOW, June 14 (Xinhua) -- The Shanghai Cooperation Organization has moved into a new era of pragmatic cooperation that will benefit its member states and the international community.

That's the impression of the Russian media as the SCO is to hold its ninth annual summit June 15 in Yekaterinburg, Russia. The summit will be held precisely eight years after the establishment of the regional bloc that includes China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

Under the guidance of the Shanghai Spirit, which enshrines mutual trust and benefits, equality, negotiation and respect for cultural diversity, the SCO has gradually become an efficient mechanism for maintaining its member states' common benefits and promoting their cooperation.

It has also grown into a major force in facilitating the realization of lasting peace and common development. The SCO also has made crucial contributions to the establishment of a just and rational international order.

As SCO members have strengthened mutual trust and coordinated their stances on international issues, political collaboration within the SCO is expected to become a potent mechanism in setting up a new global political order.

In terms of security, a major priority within the SCO, all member states have accomplished great achievements in fighting terrorism, drug trafficking and other problems.

In particular, several meetings this year have outlined a more tangible "roadmap" for further cooperation in this sphere.

Member states at the first SCO conference on Afghanistan held March 27 in Moscow reached consensus on comprehensive cooperation against terrorism, drug trafficking and organized crime.

The SCO's defense ministers also endorsed a cooperation plan for 2010-2011 after an April 29 meeting in Moscow.

A series of cooperation documents concerning transborder organized crime, money laundering and oil and gas pipeline security were signed after the first meeting of the SCO interior and public security ministers in Yekaterinburg on May 18.