The heads of state of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) on Tuesday underscored their concerted efforts for the group's internal construction.

All tasks set in the Tashkent summit in June 2004 to further develop and strengthen the SCO have been practically fulfilled, says a declaration of the leaders.

Two permanent bodies of the SCO -- the Secretariat in Beijing and the Regional Anti-terrorist Structure (RATS) in Tashkent -- operational since 2004 are becoming efficient mechanisms ensuring smooth functions of the organization, says the declaration.

To assist RATS in the implementation of the Shanghai Convention on Fighting Terrorism, Separatism and Extremism, the heads of state have agreed to establish a mechanism of permanent representatives of member states in anti-terror bodies of the SCO, in the model of the mechanism of permanent representatives of member states to the SCO Secretariat.

The heads of state are confident that the Concept of Cooperation of the SCO Member States in Fighting Terrorism, Separatism and Extremism, adopted at the summit will improve the efficiency of cooperation in this field and make RATS activities more clearly defined and target-oriented, says the declaration.

A meeting of SCO heads of government in fall 2005 in Moscow will give impetus to practical cooperation in trade, transport, environmental protection, emergency rescue, culture and education among SCO countries, it says.

The SCO Business Council, whose formation is being finalized, will become a new boost for the integration process within the group, the leaders believe.

Member states will made efforts to expedite the establishment of a development fund and strengthen banking coordination to facilitate financing for projects of regional cooperation, according to the declaration.

The leaders consider it imperative for the SCO to have proper contacts with the rest of the world.

Noting considerable and constructive work having been done by foreign ministers, the heads of state stress the importance of the proper functioning of the current mechanism of intra-SCO consultations on international issues.

The Council of National Coordinators should work with the Secretariat and RATS to establish, at an early date, common approaches in a bid to enable the SCO to most efficiently develop its contacts with the UN secretariat, commissions and committees, to implement cooperation instruments signed with other international organizations, and to establish ties with regional associations and fora as well as with other countries, on the basis of equity and mutual respect, says the declaration.

The SCO groups China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. India, Iran and Pakistan were granted observer status at the current summit.

Source: Xinhua