SCO leaders underscore regional security, peaceful settlement of hotspot issues

Chinese President Xi Jinping attends the 15th Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Ufa, Russia, July 10, 2015. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei)

UFA, Russia, July 10 -- Leaders of member countries of the Shanghai Cooperation Organizations (SCO) on Friday reached consensus on the peaceful settlement of international hotspot issues and urged intensified cooperation on fighting terrorism.

According to a declaration issued here after the 15th SCO summit, the member states of the bloc called on all parties involved in the Ukraine crisis to stick to the full implementation of the Minsk ceasefire agreement with no condition so as to restore peace in the country.

Referring to the situation in Afghanistan, the SCO member countries support the efforts made by the Afghan government and people in a bid to establish a peaceful and stable nation.

The SCO member states also appealed for a key role of the United Nations in the fight against terrorism, extremism and drug-related crimes in Afghanistan, according to the declaration.

Meanwhile, the SCO countries spoke highly of the efforts made by Iran and the P5+1 group that includes Britain, China, France, Russia, the United States and Germany, with the participation of the European Union in a bid to reach a comprehensive agreement to solve the Iran nuclear issue, said the document.

The efforts will help maintain the international nuclear non-proliferation system and safeguard regional peace and stability, it added.

On regional issues, the SCO leaders expressed serious concern over the spread of terrorism, calling on the member states to strengthen dialogue and cooperate with other countries and regional and international organizations in that regard, read the declaration.

Also, the SCO countries vowed to beef up cooperation in such areas as trade, investment, finance and culture.

The 15th SCO summit opened Friday in the southwestern Russian city of Ufa.