Experts hailed the outcome of the Shanghai Co-operation Organization (SCO) summit, saying the member states have demonstrated their commitment to strengthening practical co-operation.

Ruan Zongze, a senior expert on the SCO with China Institute of International Studies, said ordinary people would benefit from progress made at the summit.

"The SCO, whose purpose is promoting stability, co-operation and economic development in the region, is a major global force in the eyes of political leaders. Yet, despite its obvious importance, the organization receives limited attention from the public," he said.

"The best way to inject vitality into the organization is to put in place more mutually-beneficial concrete projects," Ruan said.

He said China's efforts in offering SCO member states US$900 million worth of loans in the form of preferential buyers' credit is a good example.

The first commercial deal under the loan was sealed last week between China CAMC Engineering Company Ltd and a Kyrgyz counterpart to build a cement factory with a daily production capacity of 2,500 tons.

"It doesn't matter if it's a cement factory, a power plant or a cross-border railway. Tangible benefits will make the people support co-operation among the SCO member states and make it an efficient and well-accepted regional organization," he emphasized.

In addition to economic co-operation, Ruan also noted SCO member states' determination to tighten co-operation in the spheres of healthcare and education, which will also increase people's confidence in the organization.

Since 2001, member states have negotiated and signed co-operation agreements in areas including education and culture, regional trade and infrastructure development, building oil and gas pipelines, exchanges in new technologies, joint military exercises and combating the forces of terrorism, extremism, separatism, cross-border drugs and arms trafficking.

According to Yu Sui, a senior research fellow of the Research Centre of the Contemporary World, the summit showed that co-operation is at heart of the SCO.

"The SCO's priority is security co-operation, the foundation is economic co-operation, the link is people-to-people exchange and the key issue is international co-operation," he said.

"As far as the SCO's external contacts are concerned, the international community's attention and interest in the organization has been growing steadily," he said.

The frequent communication with other regional and international organizations will help the world better understand the SCO's role and function, Yu said, as it is not a military bloc nor does it target at any third party.

Ruan echoed Yu's remarks, saying it is necessary for the SCO to reach out to the world to clear the doubts and misgivings that remain among Western nations.

"Participation by representatives from the Commonwealth of Independent States and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in the SCO summit has enhanced communication between the organization and the international community," he said.

Ruan noted that the SCO was given observer status at the UN General Assembly and has already established close contacts and become engaged in active co-operation with other UN-led agencies.

"All this shows the organization's willingness to build co-operative ties with more international organizations in order to show its principles and make a contribution to the peace and development of the region and the world," he said.

Source: China Daily