In an effort to facilitate trade and boost regional economies
the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and the Eurasian
Economic Community (EEC) are to enhance energy and transport
cooperation.
The SCO, which includes China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan,
Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, signed a memorandum of understanding on
Monday with the EEC whose members include Russia, Belarus,
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
The two groups will promote exchanges and cooperation in such
fields as trade, energy, environmental protection, transport,
communication, investment, tourism, education, healthcare, sports,
science and technology.
"We agreed to give priority to energy cooperation which is of
common concern and important for regional development," said Zhang
Deguang, SCO secretary-general.
He said the two organizations have had "primary" discussions on
this subject and some proposals had been discussed including
cooperation in building hydro-power stations in Kyrgyzstan and
Tajikistan. The upgrading of oil and natural gas pipelines had also
been discussed.
Details of these proposals were left for the experts to
consider, he said.
The two organizations will also cooperate in improving a
regional transport system to facilitate trade between Asia and
Europe. The EEC will launch a pilot project on container
transportation among its member countries this year to identify any
particular problems.
(Xinhua News Agency May 9, 2006)