Premiers of SCO Member States Hold First MeetingPrime ministers of the six member countries of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), which include China, Kazakhstan, Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, held their first summit here on Friday.During the meeting, Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji said that the establishment of the SCO is producing important and profound influence on the situation in the region and in the whole world, and that the meeting aims to implement the resolutions and principles set at the Shanghai summit in June this year. As the six countries have effectively cooperated in the fields of politics, security and diplomacy and have set up a meeting and consultation mechanism, Zhu said, it is vital to work out a " Charter of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization" as soon as possible to improve the operation system of the SCO, while speeding up the establishment of the Bishkek anti-terrorism center in a bid to jointly fight terrorism, separatism and extremism. He said that to promote regional economic cooperation, priority should be given to facilitating investment in trade and working out an outline for multilateral economic and trade cooperation. He said the measures are expected to keep the SCO active in its process of growth and to help the region participate in the global economic cooperation and competition as well as improve the status of the member countries and the region in the world political and economic structure. Chinese ancient strategists said good timing, geographical convenience and harmonious human relations are the three factors for a successful cause, said the premier. The SCO enjoys these conditions in its strengthening of economic cooperation, he said. Zhu continued to explain that firstly, the six member countries of the SCO are all devoted to economic development, and the accelerated pace of economic globalization and dramatic scientific and technological progress have provided a historic opportunity for further growth of the region; secondly, the six countries enjoy vast territory, large population, huge market, close location, rich resources and strong supplement in economies, all of which will be advantages for the regional cooperation; and thirdly, the six countries have maintained traditional good neighborly relations since they established diplomatic ties. He added that if the three factors are given into full play, the SCO member states will witness economic development and prosperity and improve their economic strength and competitive edge in the world. However, Zhu pointed out, the six countries lack advanced market economies and a perfect environment for trade and investment. The differences in foreign trade as well as economic management system in these countries have led to difficulties in the flow of commodities, services, capital, technologies and personnel within the region, he said. Therefore, he said, the six countries should steadily promote multilateral economic cooperation based on practical circumstances. Premier Zhu made some suggestions on the economic cooperation in the region. He said equality and mutual benefit are the basic principle for global economic cooperation and also an important connotation of the "Shanghai spirit." He urged the six countries to abide by the rules of market economy, saying that it is necessary for the countries to adopt internationally accepted rules in the process of developing economic and trade cooperation among the six countries. He suggested that the SCO member nations actively and gradually develop their economic cooperation in a practical manner. In the process of developing multilateral economic and trade cooperation, the bilateral relations and mechanism already set up should be consolidated and deepened, he said. Both bilateral and multilateral cooperation should be mutually complementary and promotional. "A good start is half way to success," said the Chinese premier. Through this meeting, we have defined the basic rules, directions and the mechanism of operation for our future economic cooperation, hence making a good beginning in this regard, he added. Prime ministers from the six countries discussed the development of the SCO and the economic and trade cooperation among them amidst mutual understanding and in a constructive and cooperative atmosphere, and showed their concerns on how to work together in fields such as trade, transportation, energy, agriculture, environmental protection, finance, water resources and forest fire prevention. They expressed the belief that to promote long-term and stable cooperation within the framework of the SCO is in line with the basic interests of each member country and will help push relations among the six countries to a new level. During the meeting, the premiers decided to start the process of multilateral trade cooperation, signed a memorandum on regional economic cooperation, declared the establishment of a regular meeting mechanism of premiers from the six countries and issued a press communique of the summit. They also issued a declaration expressing sympathy with the American people suffering from terror attacks and express the will to cooperate with the international community to carry out an uncompromising struggle against terrorism. |
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