BISHKEK, April 22 -- The jubilee event to mark the 20th anniversary of signing the Treaty on Deepening Military Trust in Border Regions among "Shanghai Five" countries was held here Thursday.

The event brought together Ambassadors of China Qi Dayu, Kazakhstan Ayimdos Bozzhigitov, Russia Andrey Krutko, Tajikistan Rahimov Olim Sobirovich as well as Kyrgyz Deputy Foreign Minister Dinara Kemelova and other guests.

During the ceremony, the Chinese ambassador said that the signing of these agreements speeded up the process of solving border disputes between China and its four neighbors, and transformed the border line into a belt of friendship.

"Today these two treaties play a constructive role in preserving stability and prosperity in Eurasia that received general approval," Qi said.

In June 2001, on the basis of the Shanghai Five, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) was born.

Qi said that over fifteen years of development, trust continues to grow among SCO member states, pragmatic cooperation has been deepening in all areas, and the organization's influence on regional and global arenas has been steadily growing. Meanwhile, the international and regional authority of the organization is increasing.

"Mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, consultations, respect for diversity of civilizations are the essence of the Shanghai spirit, which became the core ideology and behavior of the SCO," said the Chinese ambassador.

For her part, the Kyrgyz deputy foreign minister said her country attaches great importance to these treaties and has actively taken part in the implementation of them.

"The Shanghai Spirit closely unites our countries and we have to develop it," she said.

Meanwhile, the Russian ambassador said the Shanghai Spirit "is prevailing in our countries. Russia makes every effort for the successful implementation of mechanisms of the Shanghai Five and SCO."

China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan signed the Treaty on Deepening Military Trust in Border Regions on April 26, 1996 in Shanghai, and the Treaty on Reduction of Military Forces in Border Regions on April 24, 1997 in Moscow.

The SCO consists of six countries -- China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.