India supports the basic objectives of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and is interested in participating in economic and anti-terror cooperation within the SCO framework, an Indian External Affair Ministry official has said.

"India is keenly interested in participating in all activities focused on socio-economic development," P. V. Rao, director of the ministry's External Publicity Division, told Xinhua in an interview by fax.

India was admitted as an observer at the SCO Astana summit on July 5, 2005.

"We have indicated interest to participate in the meeting of the SCO Business Council, the SCO Development Fund, Inter-Banking Agreement, Economic Forum and related bodies," Rao said.

Rao expressed India's desire for working together with the SCO to fight terrorism and drug trafficking.

Rao said India supports the basic objectives of the SCO that are focused on strengthening mutual trust, good neighborhood, friendship and cooperation, maintenance of regional peace, security and stability, and assistance for economic and social development in the region.

V. R. Raghavan, director of New Delhi-based Delhi Policy Group, said India is happy to see the encouraging development of the SCO, hoping the organization will play an active role in maintaining regional peace and stability.

India hopes the 2006 SCO summit slated for Thursday in Shanghai will be able to do something in maintaining stability in Central Asia, he said.

Source: Xinhua