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SCO summit in Bishkek to focus on regional security

The leaders of all member states have confirmed their participation

Photo ITAR-TASS / Alexander Astafev

Photo ITAR-TASS / Alexander Astafev

BISHKEK, September 13 (Itar-Tass) - A summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation will be held in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, on Friday, September 13.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation is an intergovernmental international organisation founded in Shanghai on June 15, 2001 by six countries: China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Its member states cover an area of over 30 million square kilometres, or about three-fifths of Eurasia, with a population of 1.455 billion, about a quarter of the world's total. Its working languages are Chinese and Russian.

The leaders of all member states have confirmed their participation. Afghanistan, Iran and Mongolia will attend as observers. Their leaders will have the chance to “outline their positions on certain geopolitical issues,” Sapar Isakov, head of the department of foreign policy in the office of the Kyrgyz President, said.

“Security in the region is the number one issue to be discussed at the SCO summit,” he said, adding that much attention would also be paid to major economic, especially infrastructure, projects.

According to Isakov, there are several economic areas where the SCO countries could successfully cooperate on a mutually advantageous basis. These are “projects concerning the construction of infrastructure facilities, optical fiber lines and telecom industry, as well as new roads and railway lines to link the participating countries.”

All decisions to be agreed on at the summit will be included in the final document - Bishkek Declaration.

Isakov said no new admissions would be discussed at the summit even though some countries “have expressed such wish.” But the decision depends on each of the member states. “It is impossible to say anything definite at this point. At any rate, this has to be decided on the basis of consensus,” he said.

Security has been tightened in Bishkek ahead of the summit. About 2,500 policemen will ensure law and order during the forum.

The Foreign Ministry said about 350 journalists from 17 countries, representing 67 mass media, will cover the summit, including ITAR-TASS, Reuters, France Presse, the Associated Press, Xinhua, Bloomberg News, ORT, BBC and others.

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