The upcoming 2006 summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is of great significance and will have great influence on the group's future development, said A. Bagatyrjov, director of Kyrgyzstan's Institute of International Strategy Study.

Bagatyrjov lauded the SCO as an open international organization which conforms to the tide of globalization and makes efforts to engage other countries as well as regional and international organizations in dialogue, exchange and cooperation.

The SCO members strictly stick to the UN Charter, resolve problems by coordination, maintain consultations and act jointly to regional and international affairs, and promote peace and stability in the region and the world at large, he said in a recent interview with Xinhua.

Bagatyrjov said Kyrgyzstan attaches great importance to security cooperation within the SCO framework, trying to put into practice the closely-coordinated combat against terrorism, separatism and extremism.

In addition, the SCO has conducted successful cooperation in fighting weapons and drug trafficking, illegal immigration and other criminal activities.

The SCO, established on June 15, 2001 in Shanghai, consists of China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, with Pakistan, India, Iran, Mongolia as observers.

The 2006 SCO summit will be held on Thursday in Shanghai, China.

Source: Xinhua