Security cooperation between the member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) has yielded practical results, helping to ensure regional stability amid a complex global security environment, a senior official with the Ministry of Public Security said on Friday.

Fighting against the "three evil forces" of terrorism, extremism and separatism has been a priority target for the SCO since its establishment in 2001, and the organization has carried out an array of actions aimed at effectively deterring the spread of the "three evil forces" in the region, said Liao Jinrong, director of the Ministry of Public Security's International Cooperation Bureau, at a press conference held ahead of the 18th SCO Summit which will be held between June 9 and 10.

He noted that the SCO members, through enhanced cooperation, have deterred hundreds of terrorist attacks and arrested a large number of people belonging to international terrorist organizations. Many training bases of armed terrorists have been destroyed.

Despite remarkable achievements, there are still challenges that lie ahead for the SCO. Liao pointed out that terrorism, drugs, organized cross-border crime and information security are the four major challenges facing the SCO. "Terrorism is the most outstanding problem in front of us," he said, adding that combating terrorism is the most important task for SCO members and the whole region. Moreover, he revealed that the SCO is currently working on necessary measures to better safeguard regional security and stability.

India and Pakistan will attend the 18th SCO Summit as full members for the first time after they officially joined the organization last year. "India and Pakistan have extensive experience in combating crimes and maintaining security, so the attendance of the two countries will bring more development potential to the SCO," he said. He also stressed that the expansion of the SCO will provide more opportunities for building a regional community with a shared future and new type of international cooperation relations.

Regarding China's role in promoting regional security cooperation, Liao said that China, following the "Shanghai Spirit", featuring mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, consultation, respect for cultural diversity, and the pursuit of common development, has promoted SCO members to enhance mutual trust and reach win-win cooperation.

China has broken new ground for the SCO in security cooperation after it took up the rotating chair in June last year, Liao said, adding that the country has worked together with other SCO members to improve their capability to maintain security.

Liao revealed that regional security remains one of the key topics of the Qingdao summit. Leaders of the SCO members will analyze the international and regional security situation in a bid to produce clear strategies to deal with challenges; discuss how to improve cooperation and explore new security cooperation areas.

Liao expressed his confidence about the Qingdao summit, saying that the consensus of the summit will help the SCO to maintain its regional security and stability and guarantee continued economic development. 

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