SCO member states pledge to deepen cooperation in various fields

Photo taken on Dec 15, 2014 shows the scence of the 13th prime ministers' meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Astana, Kazakhstan. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang attended the meeting. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei)

Member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) pledged on Monday to deepen cooperation in various areas, with economic cooperation as a priority of their win-win drive. [Special coverage]

The prime ministers of the six countries -- China, Russia,Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan -- reaffirmed the importance to take joint action to strengthen the competitive edge of their economies and improve the livelihood of their people, said a joint statement issued here after the 13th prime ministers's meeting of the SCO.

According to the statement, member states will take steps to boost their economic and people-to-people cooperation, maintain economic stability, enhance investment environment and expand industrial output.

The prime ministers also agreed to create convenient conditions for expanding their practical cooperation in finance, banking, technology, innovation, energy, customs, agriculture, transport and telecommunications, said the statement.

They welcomed China's proposal on the Silk Road Economic Belt, said it was of great significance to start negotiations and cooperation in this regard.

Moreover, the heads of government stressed the need to establish as soon as possible a mechanism to ensure project financing under the framework of the SCO.

They agreed to bolster investment cooperation through projects in high-tech, transport and logistics, telecommunication and other areas, welcoming China's proposal to use its investment mechanisms to support the financing of the bloc's economic projects, said the statement.

The prime ministers highly praised the works done by the transportation departments of the SCO member states for an agreement on the facilitation of international highway transportation between SCO members to be signed in Dushanbe on Sept. 12.

As the accord will enable the existing transportation infrastructure to be effectively used, boost the potential of trans-border transit and promote the development of economic and trade cooperation between SCO members, they urged for the agreement to go into force as soon as possible.

The prime ministers stressed that enhancing bilateral and multilateral coordination in agriculture is also of great importance.

They noted that, in order to further reduce or limit the emission of harmful waste gases, including greenhouse gases, and decrease the energy consumption ratio, cooperation should be strengthened in the energy field.

They voiced satisfaction with the people-to-people cooperation within the bloc, saying they would support further development of multilateral and bilateral communication in culture, science, education, health, sports and tourism to improve mutual understanding.

The heads of government said that special attention must be paid to environment protection and pragmatic cooperation must be implemented in this field, so as to protect the potential of natural resources in SCO countries and benefit this generation and generations to come.

They also vowed to enhance cooperation in disease prevention and control.

The prime ministers also expressed support to augment trade and investment cooperation with SCO observer states, dialogue partners as well as international and regional organizations.

Aside from the six members, the SCO, founded in 2001, also has Afghanistan, India, Iran, Mongolia and Pakistan as observers. Belarus, Turkey and Sri Lanka are dialogue partners of the bloc.