— Address by President Hu Jintao at the 10th Meeting of the Council of Heads of Member States of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (Tashkent, June 11, 2010)

It gives me great pleasure to meet you all in Tashkent, a city with a history of several thousand years. Since assuming the chairmanship of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), Uzbekistan has done a large amount of effective work for the development of this organization. China highly appreciates its efforts. I wish to express heartfelt thanks to President Karimov and the government of Uzbekistan for the thoughtful preparations and arrangements for this meeting.

I wish to begin by extending, on behalf of the Chinese Government and people, sincere gratitude to the SCO and the member states for your assistance and support in various forms following the massive earthquake in Yushu of China's Qinghai Province. I also wish to thank you for your active participation in Expo 2010 Shanghai.

Through the joint efforts of its member states, the SCO has made positive contributions to regional security and stability and the development of its member states since we last met in Tashkent six years ago. Over the past year, our practical cooperation in various fields within the SCO has been fruitful and has contributed greatly to our collective response to the international financial crisis. The extensive network of partnership the last Tashkent Summit decided to create is steadily taking shape. China is gratified to see all these achievements.

We live in a world that is moving toward multipolarity and economic globalization. The trend of our times---peace, development and cooperation---is becoming stronger, the adjustment of the international political and economic pattern is gathering pace, and countries in our region are more interdependent than ever. At the same time, however, destabilizing factors and uncertainties are clearly on the rise in our region. The impact of the international financial crisis can still be felt, and problems such as the "three forces" and drug trafficking are becoming more pronounced. Against this backdrop, the SCO member states should earnestly follow the "Shanghai Spirit," step up solidarity and coordination and bring into play our collective wisdom and strength. Only in so doing can we overcome difficulties and achieve common development. In this regard, I propose that cooperation in the following areas be intensified within the SCO framework:

First, strengthen solidarity and mutual trust to consolidate the political foundation for the organization's development. We should resolutely implement the Treaty on Long-Term Good-Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation. In line with the principle and purpose of everlasting friendship, we should continue to increase strategic dialogue and policy coordination and cooperate closely on issues concerning the sovereignty, security, development and other core interests of member states. We should make good and effective use of the mechanism for dealing with contingencies, work out common positions on major international and regional issues in a timely fashion, and speak with one voice on these issues so as to effectively maintain regional security and stability. We sincerely hope that the situation in Kyrgyzstan will stabilize as soon as possible, the country will achieve social development, and its people will enjoy happiness. China is ready to work with other member states and continue to help the people of Kyrgyzstan within our capability.

Second, step up counterterrorism efforts and build a safe environment for the organization's development. We should further implement the SCO Counter-Terrorism Convention and other cooperation documents of the organization and effectively increase our capability of fighting the "three forces" in the region. We should strengthen intelligence sharing, border management and control, and the security of means of transportation. We should improve the cooperation mechanism on fighting drug trafficking and other transnational crimes, strengthen personnel training and exchanges, and increase the efficiency of joint law enforcement. We propose the conclusion of a legal document on security cooperation regarding cross-border oil and gas pipelines.

Third, fully tap the potential of our cooperation and strengthen the basis for the sustained development of the organization. We should accelerate the execution of the Action Plan on Implementation of the Program of Multilateral Trade and Economic Cooperation and the joint initiative of SCO member states on countering the financial crisis, and take concrete steps to increase the interconnectivity of transport, energy, telecommunications and other infrastructure in the region. We should work to facilitate customs clearance, quality inspection and transportation, identify new demonstration projects with multiple participants and beneficiaries, and launch the mechanism to monitor economic development as soon as possible. We should innovate new cooperation models, study ways to establish an SCO regional e-commerce platform, and conduct joint studies on agricultural cooperation. We propose that non-resource sectors be identified as a new priority for SCO's regional economic cooperation.

At the summit in Yekaterinburg, China pledged loans totaling USD10 billion to other SCO member states. The Chinese side is actively implementing this pledge. This year, China will hold an "SCO Business Day" during the upcoming Urumqi Foreign Economic Relations and Trade Fair. We hope the governments and business communities of SCO member states will actively support and participate in this event.

Fourth, expand friendly exchanges and firm up the cultural foundation for the development of the organization. We should put into action the consensus reached at the first meeting of ministers of science and technology and establish the basic principles and priority areas of multilateral science and technology cooperation among SCO member states and the methods for implementing relevant projects. China suggests a meeting of health ministers be held as soon as possible to deepen cooperation on the prevention and treatment of epidemic diseases, public health and other initiatives that can enhance the well-being of our people. China also suggests the institutionalization of the Forum for Heads of National Schools and Institutes of Public Administration for the benefit of experience-sharing on government administration and capacity building for public administration. The Chinese side is also ready to provide more teachers, textbooks and training opportunities for the teaching and study of Chinese language in SCO member states.

Fifth, improve institutional building and the decision-making mechanism for the development of the organization. To maximize opportunities and meet challenges, our organization needs to enhance and improve its own institutions and procedures. This summit will approve a set of rules of procedure, which will lay the legal foundation for the efficient operation of various SCO bodies. China supports the SCO in enhancing legal and institutional building in order to better facilitate practical cooperation among member states.

Sixth, promote transparency and inclusiveness to create a favorable environment for the development of the organization. We should intensify practical cooperation with observer states and dialogue partners in the security, economic, trade, energy, transportation, customs and other fields, step up coordination with other regional and international organizations and integrate resources in a larger context to achieve complementarity of strength, raise the level of economic and social development in the region, and bring more benefits to the people of our countries.

The SCO plays a unique role on the issue of Afghanistan. China supports the SCO in making still greater contributions to the peaceful reconstruction and long-term stability of Afghanistan.

Next year, our organization will celebrate its 10th anniversary. We propose that SCO member states and permanent bodies carefully plan a variety of activities to mark the occasion, enhance public awareness of the purpose and principles of our organization, move forward cooperation in various fields, and give new impetus to the development of the SCO.

The World Expo is under way in Shanghai, the birthplace of this organization. "World Harmony Begins in the Neighborhood." This is the theme of SCO participation in the Shanghai World Expo. It is consistent with China's long-standing foreign policy objective of building amicable relations and partnerships with neighboring countries. China will adhere to the win-win strategy of opening up and, together with other countries, make even greater efforts for new achievements in bringing enduring peace and common prosperity to this region.

In conclusion, I sincerely congratulate Kazakhstan on assuming the SCO rotating chairmanship and hosting the 2011 SCO Summit.