A leader of the Communist Party of China (CPC) expressed the hope Friday that the countries of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) would enhance cultural exchanges to facilitate their cooperation in various fields.

"Within the SCO framework, the countries should boost cultural exchanges to enrich cooperation of the SCO," said Li Changchun, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee.

Li made the remarks while meeting with cultural ministers from the SCO member countries and observers, who are to attend the seventh SCO meeting of cultural ministers to be held in China's southernmost province of Hainan.

Li said that cultural exchanges serve as a bridge for communications among the SCO countries, and the meeting mechanism of the SCO cultural ministers has played an important role in enhancing cultural exchanges and friendship.

The SCO Secretary General Muratbek Imanaliev said the cultural ministers' meeting will exert positive influence on the friendship among the SCO member countries and observers.

The SCO, which was founded in Shanghai in 2001, comprises China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Four nations, including Mongolia, India, Pakistan and Iran, have observer status in the group.