The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is an open international organization and willing to cooperate with other countries, a top SCO official said in Tashkent, capital of Uzbekistan, on Tuesday.  

SCO Secretary-General Zhang Deguang said at a press conference after talks with Uzbek Foreign Minister Sadyk Safayev that SCO's goal is to maintain peace and prosperity in the region. He stressed that the organization has no plan to set up a military alliance.

Uzbekistan is a crucial member of SCO and China highly appreciates Uzbekistan's contribution to the organization, Zhang said.

Meanwhile, Safayev said the objectives of SCO are to maintain regional security, develop economic cooperation and fight international terrorism, drug trafficking and organized crime and they will not run against the interests of other countries.

All heads of state of SCO member countries will attend in Tashkent in June a summit, which is of great significance to SCO's future development, Safayev said.

According to news from Tashkent, during their talks, Zhang and Safayev focused on preparations for the June summit and cooperation between SCO and Uzbekistan.

Zhang arrived in Tashkent on Tuesday for a three-day official visit, his first trip to a foreign country after he took the post in January.

SCO, founded in June 2001, groups China, Russia, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Tajikistan.

(Xinhua News Agency March 10, 2004)