On July 9, 2007, the SCO MFA Council Meeting was held in Bishkek, capital of Kyrgyzstan, a meeting to work on how to promote the further development of the SCO and make political preparations for the SCO Summit in Bishkek in August. Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi attracted the wide attention of the participants while expounding China's proposals to promote the development of the SCO.

 

Yang said that the situation of the SCO region is basically stable and the economy of the region is growing rapidly on the whole. But various traditional and non-traditional threats to security interweave with each other, bringing tremendous challenges to regional security. In the new situation, the cohesion of the organization should be consolidated in a bid to ensure its smooth development. The Treaty on Long-term Good-Neighbourliness, Friendship and Cooperation among the SCO Member States, which is planned to be signed by the heads of state, will significantly strengthen the good-neighbourly friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation among the SCO member states and lay a legal basis for the regional security, stability and prosperity.

 

Yang said that the SCO has entered into a development phase focusing upon pragmatic cooperation. To substantially advance the development of the organization, the Chinese side proposes the followings:

 

Firstly, to deepen security cooperation, create a stable security environment, step up efforts to develop the treaty combating terrorism, and improve the member states' ability to jointly combat terrorism. To effectively execute anti-drug cooperation accords and timely establish anti-drug cooperation mechanisms.

 

Secondly, to strengthen economic cooperation and seek for common prosperity. To improve the legal basis for trade and investment cooperation, step up efforts to develop treaties promoting and protecting investment and international road transport facilitation accords among the member states. To intensify efforts to implement multilateral economic and trade cooperation outlines, make plans for network-type projects in such areas as energy, transport and telecommunications, and timely implement a group of projects featuring multi-party participation and shared benefits.

 

Thirdly, to promote cultural and people-to-people cooperation, exchanges and dialogues. To continue to implement educational cooperation accords and emergency relief cooperation accords, and accelerate the work on developing accords for mutual recognition of academic degrees and diplomas. To deepen cultural cooperation and cooperation between youths and carry out exchange activities in varied forms and contents. To strengthen health cooperation, especially in such fields of prevention and treatment of communicable diseases and traditional medical science.

 

Fourthly, to expand international exchanges and enhance international image. To step up efforts to carry out substantial cooperation with the SCO observers in economy, transport, energy and combating terrorism; give play to the role of the SCO-Afghanistan point of contact group mechanism and carry out cooperation with Afghanistan in varied forms; and actively build up contacts and start dialogues with related regions and international organizations.

 

Fifthly, to further strengthen the work of the two permanent agencies, the SCO Secretariat and the regional anti-terrorism mechanism, and strive to make them play bigger roles in promoting cooperation in security, economy, culture and other areas and advancing international exchanges.

 

Yang said that realizing peace and development in Central Asia boils down to the solidarity and cooperation of the countries in this region. Paying due respect to social systems and development paths selected by the countries in their own wills and adopting practical steps to help Central Asian countries overcome difficulties in the process of economic and social development in a pursuit of common prosperity conforms to the fundamental interests of the Central Asian countries and the overall interest of the SCO. The Chinese side is willing to work with all sides to make our contributions to building a peaceful, cooperative, prosperous and harmonious Central Asia.

 

Following the meeting, Yang also attended the MFA press conference and the collective meeting of foreign ministers with Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev.