SCO demonstrates growing vitality, appeal, says Chinese expert

The summit could be regarded as a landmark, with leaders' consensus on combating terrorism, and strengthening economic and cultural cooperation set out the future direction of the organization's development, Wan Chengcai, an expert on Russian foreign policy, told Xinhua.

According to Xinhua,the bloc, founded in Shanghai on June 15, 2001, groups China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Proceeding from mutual security, member states signed the Treaty on Long-term Good-neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation in 2007.

"The main characteristic of the treaty is that it sets no time limit, reflecting member states' will to be good neighbors and never enemies," said Wan, director of the Russian Foreign Relations Development Research Center under the Chinese State Council.

To ensure security, the SCO needed to strengthen its capacity to combat "the three evil forces" of terrorism, separatism and extremism as well as other menaces such as narcotics and multinational organized crime.

Wan called on the countries to keep a sober mind and guard against external forces attempting to spread turmoil in west Asia and north Africa to central Asia and China.

Recognizing the results gained on the economic front, Wan said the member states had still to tap their full potential and complement each other to improve national strength and people's livelihoods.

For full versipon go to http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/indepth/2011-06/16/c_13933870.htm