UFA, July 10. /TASS/. The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) contributes to solving controversial issues among its members without interfering in bilateral relations, the organization’s Secretary-General Dmitry Mezentsev said on Friday.

"I'm absolutely convinced that even if any difficult situations occurs, the SCO institutions do not meddle in the system of bilateral relations but nevertheless assist the format of possible solving the disputes," Mezentsev told reporters in Ufa, the capital of Russia's Volga republic of Bashkiria, hosting the summit.

"Without doubt, the SCO like any other international association should contribute to a more stable, open and trustworthy environment among the states," Mezentsev added.

Russia took over the presidency of the SCO bloc in September 2014. The key priorities of the presidency are forming common approaches towards regional and global problems and expanding cooperation with international organizations.

Russia’s special presidential envoy to the organization, Bakhriyer Khakimov said Russia has managed to accomplish almost entirely the plan for the presidency term.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is a regional international association founded in Shanghai, China, on June 15, 2001. Its priority tasks include joint counteraction to terrorism and extremism; cooperation in education as well as in the energy, oil and gas, transport, communication and other spheres.

At present, the SCO comprises Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. India and Pakistan, which have observer status in the organization, submitted applications for the full membership in September 2014. Iran also seeks to get the full membership in the bloc.