Chinese Defense Minister Cao Gangchuan left BeijingTuesday for Kyrgyzstan to attend the defense ministers' meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

Cao is also vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission and state councilor.

The SCO, founded in Shanghai in 2001, comprises six member countries, namely China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. It pledges to enhance security, trade, cultural, military and justice cooperation among member countries.

Source: Xinhua