As a fruit of their summit here Thursday, the leaders of the six
member countries of the Shanghai Co-operation Organization (SCO)
agreed the Moscow Declaration, described as "a landmark event."
Chinese President Hu Jintao, who was participating in the SCO
summit for the first time, told reporters afterwards that China has
always attached great importance to the construction and
development of the organization.
"China is willing to join together with other member countries to
promote the procedure of progression of the SCO, so as to
contribute to the maintenance of peace, development and prosperity
in the region and the world in large," Hu said.
In
June 2001, China, Russia and four central Asian countries,
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, formed the
SCO.
Since its foundation the SCO has actively pursued a policy of
co-operation in respect of international affairs, a stance which
was also reflected in the joint declaration.
"The recognition of the important role of the United Nations and
the UN Security Council in solving major international problems is
of fundamental importance," the declaration states.
The SCO leaders urged for reforms to the UN to meet with the
rapidly changing world situation, foremost of which concerns the
need for effective solutions to the problems concerning global
security policies.
At
its conclusion, the summit also endorsed several documents,
including approvals of the functions of the SCO bodies as well as
its official ensign.
The leaders of the six countries also confirmed the appointment of
the SCO Executive Secretary. For the first three years the SCO
Secretariat will be headed by a Chinese representative, China's
current Ambassador to Russia Zhang Deguang.
In
his speech delivered to the summit, Hu spoke highly of the headway
that has been made by the SCO in its organization building and
other areas.
As
to its future role, Hu said the organizational construction should
be speeded up and security co-operation should be deepened and
broadened.
He
particularly emphasized that regional, standing bodies should be
put in place as soon as possible to promote co-operation in the
fields of economics, security and outside contacts.
On
the establishment of new international political and economic
orders, Hu called upon the global community to develop a new
security concept based on reciprocal trust, mutual benefit, equal
rights and co-operation.
China, meanwhile, will continue to seek the resolution of regional
and international issues through dialogue, adding that the
principles of the UN Charter and other universally recognized norms
of international law should be highly respected, Hu said.
The heads of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and
Uzbekistan also delivered speeches, in which they elaborated on
their positions in respect of organization building, economic
development and trade, anti-terrorism and anti-drug trafficking and
other international issues.
Ahead of the summit, Hu met separately with Tajikistani President
Emomali Rakhmonov and Uzbekistan President Islam Karimov. And
earlier, on Wednesday, he held talks with Kyrgyz President Askar
Akayev.
During the meetings Hu reaffirmed China's policy of developing
friendly ties with these central Asian states, noting such
long-term mutually beneficial co-operation is not only in the basic
interests of the peoples of the region, but is also conducive to
establishing world peace and stability.
Hu
is scheduled to fly to St. Petersburg Friday to attend the
celebrations to mark the city's 300th anniversary.
More than 40 world leaders and international organizations are
expected to attend the ceremony.
During his stay in St. Petersburg, Hu, who is on his first overseas
trip since becoming China's president, will meet several heads of
state. It is reported that the name list includes Canadian Prime
Minister Jean Chretien and Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro
Koizumi.
(China Daily May 30, 2003)