Chinese President Hu Jintao arrived in Yekaterinburg in central Russia on Sunday for a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and a meeting of BRIC countries, namely Brazil, Russia, India and China.

Chinese President Hu Jintao (2nd L) arrives in Jekaterinburg, Russia, on June 14, 2009, for a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and a meeting of BRIC countries, namely Brazil, Russia, India and China. [Lu Jinbo/Xinhua]

Receiving the Chinese president at the airport were Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexei Borodavkin and other Russian officials.

At the annual SCO summit, top leaders of the organization's six members will exchange views on how to tackle the current international financial crisis and how to expand cooperation in political, economic, security and other fields.

"For the first time, the leaders of SCO member states and observers will hold a small-size group meeting, which is a new measure taken by the SCO to strengthen substantial cooperation with its observers," Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Li Hui told a press briefing last Tuesday.

Chinese President Hu Jintao (L) is welcomed by Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexei Borodavkin upon his arrival in Jekaterinburg, Russia, on June 14, 2009, for a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and a meeting of BRIC countries, namely Brazil, Russia, India and China. [Lan Hongguang/Xinhua]

He said that the summit was expected to further implement the treaty of long-term neighborliness, friendship and cooperation entered into by and between the SCO member states, boost regional cooperation in the sectors of politics, security, economy, cultural and people-to-people exchanges, work together to tackle the global financial and economic crisis, and promote an early economic recovery in the region.

The summit will yield a joint statement as well as other cooperation documents.

In recent years, the SCO has played an increasingly important role in maintaining regional security and economic development.