Chinese Defense Minister Liang Guanglie, in an address to a meeting of defense ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Moscow on Wednesday, called for enhanced cooperation from countries of the SCO to confront regional and global challenges.

Liang noted that it meets with the trend of the times for countries to seek peace, development and cooperation in an era of dramatic change and adjustment, especially when considering the long-standing regional hotspots and the ongoing global financial crisis.

Solutions to regional affairs rest on concerted efforts of countries in the region as well as deepened regional cooperation, Liang said.

In dealing with international and regional security affairs, Liang urged all member states to adhere to the Shanghai Spirit, which embodies mutual trust and benefits, equality, respect for cultural diversity and a desire for common development.

He said SCO members should fully respect the cultural traditions and territorial sovereignty of each other, abide by the U.N. Charter, universal laws and principles.

They should also abandon antagonism, clique politics and unilateralism, but strive to give full play of multilateral diplomacy and adopt a concerted stance based on equal consultation, mutual benefit and multi-win situations to cope with global and regional threats and challenges, Liang said.

Founded in Shanghai in 2001, SCO comprises six member countries: China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. It pledges to enhance security, trade, cultural, military and justice cooperation among members.

The SCO has made great efforts to maintain stability in the Eurasia region and the world, Liang said.

It has become one of the most active and influential blocs in the region, as well as a solid force in safeguarding regional peace and stability, and in promoting common development and prosperity of member states, he said.

The Chinese military is willing to work more closely with forces of other member states to fulfill the Treaty on Long-term Good-neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation signed at the Bishkek summit in 2007, and the consensus reached at Dushanbe last August, and to further pragmatic and effective cooperation on defense and security affairs for more benefits of the people in the region, Liang said.

To that end, he suggested all member states strengthen the exchange of opinions and coordination, reinforce strategic collaboration of mutual trust, promote multilevel dialogues, and deepen pragmatic security cooperation.

They also should develop a long-term mechanism for joint exercises and enhance their substantial effects, as well as expand fields of security cooperation, and push forward for a harmonious world, Liang said.

Participants at the meeting also discussed the current security situation in the world, and such issues as strengthening defense cooperation and safeguarding regional peace and stability.

The member states issued a joint communique and endorsed a plan of cooperation of the SCO defense ministries for 2010-2011.

(Xinhua News Agency April 30, 2009)