The leaders of member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Tuesday pledged concerted efforts to deal with new challenges and threats to the international and regional security and stability.

These efforts should be comprehensive, the leaders said a declaration issued at the end of their summit meeting.

The joint efforts should effectively improve the abilities of the member states to protect their territories, citizens, key public facilities and infrastructure from new challenges and threats, thus providing necessary conditions for sustainable development and efforts to eliminate poverty in the SCO states.

The SCO member states will thwart any attempts to organize and carry out terrorist attacks in their territories, said the leaders, adding that they will deny any shelter to persons accused or suspected of terrorist, separatist or extremist activities, and will extradite such persons upon request by other SCO nations.

In the declaration, the leaders expressed their support for the international coalition's anti-terrorism operations in Afghanistan. However, as large-scale military operations against terrorism have come to an end in Afghanistan, the leaders urged parties to the coalition to set a deadline for the temporary use of the SCO members' infrastructure facilities and for their military presence in these countries.

Measures will be taken to improve and enhance the performance of the group's anti-terror organizations, they said.

It is essential for the SCO to dismantle the material basis that breeds international terrorism and efforts should be made to crack down on illicit trafficking in arms, ammunition, explosives and drugs, as well as organized transnational crime, illegal immigration and mercenary practices, said the leaders.

Special efforts should be made to prevent the terrorists from using weapons of mass destruction, they noted.

As technological disasters have become an important component of the new threats, it is urgent to protect and develop key infrastructure and transportation facilities, they said.

The SCO member states will set up multilateral cooperation mechanisms to effectively monitor possible disasters and their impact, exchange analytical data and create necessary legal and institutional conditions for joint rescue efforts, they added.

The SCO will also strive to make constructive contributions to the efforts of the international community to safeguard land, sea, air and space security, said the leaders.

In order to boost the member states' capacity to fight terrorism, separatism, extremism and other threats and challenges, the group needs to enhance its economic strength, by increasing economic cooperation among the member states. They will also adopt practical measures to ensure the natural resources are used in a reasonable way, the leaders pledged.

They believe that the joint efforts within the SCO member states to safeguard security and strengthen their own capability does not infringe on other countries' interests, and should not be construed as an intent to create a sort of bloc.

The SCO groups China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

(Xinhua News Agency July 6, 2005)