China, Russia, other SCO nations aim for economic integration: official

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), which involves six Asian and European nations, has vowed to accomplish a free flow of commodities, capital, technology and service in the next 20 years.

Zhang Deguang, SCO secretary-general, made the remarks Wednesday at a two-day international seminar in Beijing attended by officials, experts and scholars from nearly 10 countries, including those from members states Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and China.

The seminar was sponsored by the China Institute for International Strategic Studies and Konrad Adenauer Foundation of Germany.

The SCO countries will cooperate on security issues especially concerning terrorism and extremism, acknowledged Zhang.

"The SCO will never grow into a military bloc nor resume military confrontation as in the Cold War," Zhang noted.

Zhange acknowledged the members states should cooperate in politics, economy, science and technology, culture, education, energy, transportation and environmental protection.

The SCO secretariat is working to prepare for the SCO government heads meeting scheduled for next month in Bishkek, Kyrgyz capital, which is expected to issue substantial measures for economic cooperation.

The SCO, a regional cooperation body, was established in Shanghai on June 15, 2001.

Source: Xinhua