Chinese President Hu Jintao (3rd L) poses for group photos with other leaders of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states in Dushanbe, capital of Tajikistan, on Aug. 28, 2008, during the annual summit of the organization. (Xinhua/Li Xueren)

Chinese President Hu Jintao, in a keynote speech Thursday at the summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Tajik capital Dushanbe, made a five-point proposal for joint efforts to develop lasting peace, common prosperity and regional harmony.

STRENGTHENING STRATEGIC CONSULTATION AND POLITICAL MUTUAL TRUST

Efforts should be made to promote mutual support on important issues concerning security and development of member nations in keeping with the SCO Charter and the Treaty on Long-term Good-neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation, Hu said.

SCO members should make full use of the mechanisms of the Council of Foreign Ministers and the Council of National Coordinators in boosting strategic consultations on vital and sensitive issues that affect the security, stability and development of the member nations and the region, he said.

DEVELOPMENT OF CLOSER SECURITY COOPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF REGIONAL PEACE

The Chinese president praised the effective cooperation by SCO members on security during the Beijing Olympics and called for continuous cooperation in this regard for similar events to be hosted by the member nations in the future.

Efforts should be made to develop and deepen the various meeting mechanisms such as meetings of Secretaries of Security Councils, Ministers of Defence, Heads of Supreme Courts and Prosecutors General, which have played an important role in safeguarding peace and stability in the region, Hu said.

He called for deepened cooperation among SCO member nations in arresting members of the "three evil forces" (terrorism, separatism and extremism) and criminals involved in other organized transnational crimes such as drug trafficking.

The president also proposed that SCO member nations make joint anti-terror maneuvers a mechanism, and fully implement the anti-drug agreement and the action plan on ensuring international information security.

DEEPENING ECONOMIC COOPERATION, AND REALIZING A MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL AND ALL-WIN SITUATION

Noting the advantages of the SCO in fending off impacts from world economic turbulences as its members include major economies, big food and energy producers as well as huge markets, Hu urged SCO members to make effective use of such advantages, continue efforts to facilitate easy flow of trade and investment, continue to select and implement new model projects in transportation, energy and communication, and to enhance financial and agricultural cooperation.

He expressed the hope that SCO members would implement the agreements on customs mutual assistance and strengthen cooperation in customs supervision and personnel training.

The Chinese president pledged credit support on a larger scale to fellow SCO members, saying China, as a responsible partner, will continue consultation with relevant countries in selecting projects and provide the credits it has promised.

PROMOTING HUMANITARIAN COOPERATION AND ESTABLISHING LINKS OF FRIENDSHIP

Hu said efforts should be made to boost the cooperation among SCO member countries in culture, education, science and technology, sports and tourism, and to promote academic exchanges and exchanges among the young people.

The president called for strengthened cooperation in disaster prevention and relief within the organization, as natural disasters hit the region from time to time, and called for the establishment of a disaster relief center for the organization.

With serious epidemic diseases becoming new threats to the world, Hu said, cooperation among SCO members should be strengthened in the prevention and control of epidemics, transnational medical services, coordination in dealing with public health emergencies, traditional medicine and personnel training.

IMPLEMENTING PRINCIPLE OF OPENING UP AND JOINTLY STRIVING FOR REGIONAL HARMONY

The president noted that it has been a keystone in the SCO's external affairs in recent years to conduct practical cooperation with its observers.

He said China suggests closer cooperation between the organization and its observers, and inviting the observers to participate in inter-departmental cooperation in fields like security, economy and trade, energy, transportation, customs and culture.

China highly evaluates the regulations on the dialogue partnership to be approved by the SCO, and welcomes relevant countries and international organizations, through the dialogue partnership platform, to join efforts with the SCO to promote stability and development in the region.

Editor: Yan