The presidents of the supreme courts of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states discussed on Thursday a cooperative legal mechanism to combat increasing cross-border crime, especially the "three evil forces" of terrorism, extremism and separatism.

"SCO members share the responsibility for fighting cross-border crime, including the 'three evil forces', because the region's security and stability are being threatened," said Xiao Yang, president of China's Supreme People's Court.

The regional group consists of China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Founded on June 15, 2001, when the six heads of state signed the Shanghai Pact, the SCO is a major international anti-terrorist organization.

In the past five years, the SCO has carried out extensive defense and security activities. Apart from battling the "three evil forces", the SCO has led a crackdown on drug trafficking and related crimes such as money laundering and weapons smuggling.

The Chinese government attaches great importance to judicial cooperation within the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) framework and will work with other SCO members to enhance it, saidPresident Hu Jintao in a congratulatory letter sent to the first SCO supreme court presidents conference, which opened Thursday in Shanghai.

Hu said judicial cooperation was an important part of SCO work.

Exchanges and cooperation among the supreme courts of SCO member states were of great importance in preventing and cracking down on cross-border crime and on the "three evil forces" of terrorism, extremism and separatism, and in advancing peace and development in the region.

All SCO members should set up a comprehensive mechanism to combat cross-border crime. The courts must be involved in the process, said Vyacheslav Lebedev, the head of the Russian Supreme Court.

Acting president of the Uzbekistan Supreme Court Tashmatov said that the "three evil forces" have strong financial resources and are quick to react, which makes it difficult for a single country to tackle the problem. He said concerted efforts by SCO members are essential.

"Judicial cooperation is a key area for cooperation in the SCO framework," said SCO Secretary-General Zhang Deguang in his congratulatory letter to the meeting.

According to China's Supreme People's Court, which organized the conference, a major topic is the establishment of a cooperation mechanism to deal with cross-border crime and strengthen judicial cooperation to fight against the "three evil forces" in the region.

The presidents of the supreme courts will discuss the judiciary's role in boosting social development, guaranteeing justice, improving judicial efficiency and enhancing cooperation mechanisms among the courts of SCO member countries.

Editor: Yan