MOSCOW, May 24. /TASS/. The foreign ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member countries have supported developing universal rules for behavior in the information space, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday.

"The ministers noted the importance of directing international efforts at development of universal rules for responsible behavior of states in the information space, that outline principles of respect toward state sovereignty, non-interference into internal affairs of other states, peaceful settlement of conflicts, observance of human rights and freedoms," the foreign ministry said. "The ministers hope to continue constructive discussion on this issue in the framework of the new group of UN experts on international information security," the ministry added.

The ministers also confirmed the intention of SCO member countries "to cooperate in the sphere of managing Internet, proceeding from the importance of internationalizing this process, as well as ensuring equal participation of all countries and sovereign right for managing Internet in one’s national segment."

The minsters called for soonest adoption of UN convention on fighting international terrorism. 

"The ministers call for soonest adoption of the comprehensive UN convention on fighting international terrorism and establishing an effective platform of broad cooperation to counter threats and challenges to regional security," the foreign ministry said. "The ministers are confident that it is possible to defeat and eliminate this evil only by stepping up joint efforts, developing measures aimed at both symptoms and roots of the problem, and by joint consolidated efforts of the international community on the firm basis of international law and common approaches," the ministry added.

The foreign ministers stressed "the importance of developing coordinated political approaches in the fight against terrorism, establishing cooperation with international and regional organizations, SCO observer states and dialogue partners, as well as with other countries, with the aim of creating conditions for expanding cooperation in the fight against terrorism in the current situation," the foreign ministry said.

Tourism sphere

The SCO member-countries have agreed to expand cooperation in the tourism sector, Secretary-General Rashid Alimov said after the meeting of the SCO Foreign Ministers’ Council.

"Ministers have put more focus on the draft strategy of SCO’s plan of action till 2025," Alimov said, adding that "it is no mere chance as (the document) constitutes a particular roadmap aimed at ensuring the efficient functioning of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and tackling against three evils - extremism, separatism and terrorism as well as combating drug trafficking."

Also, a decision has been made to boost cooperation in tourism, Secretary-General said. "SCO countries have a unique variety of world-class sights while the program on enhancing cooperation in the tourism sector prepared under Uzbekistan's chairmanship is the first document focused on this sphere," he added.

The Council of Foreign Ministers of SCO member countries meets today in Tashkent. In 2016, Uzbekistan chairs the organization, and the SCO summit will be held in Tashkent on June 23-24.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization is a permanent regional international association, the establishment of which was announced on June 15, 2001, in Shanghai. The organization brings together Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, China, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.