国内英语新闻:SCO summit vows to boost regional peace, stability, prosperity

SCO members were determined to carry out all-around cooperation within the SCO framework and develop the organization into a reliable guarantee of regional peace, stability and prosperity, the declaration said.

As security threats and challenges continued to emerge, SCO members should further cooperate in fighting all forms of terrorism and strengthen dialogue between different civilizations and cultures to prevent the growth of terrorism and extremism, it said.

The declaration stressed that Central Asia's initiative to build a nuclear-free zone was not only an important step in promoting regional peace and security but also would contribute greatly to regional and global peace and security.

The unrestricted deployment of anti-missile systems would possibly become a destabilizing factor menacing global security and might lead to the proliferation of missile weapons, the declaration warned.

On the economic front, the leaders agreed to strengthen coordination to better deal with the aftermath of the global financial crisis. Member countries would implement joint programs in the fields of transportation, communication and others to boost trade and investment to improve the economic competitiveness of member countries, said the declaration.

At the summit, the leaders approved the SCO rules of procedure and the regulations on procedure for admitting new members to the SCO, laying the foundation for its future expansion, the declaration noted.

Member states pledged to strengthen cooperation with observers and dialogue partners to attract their resources and markets, it said.

Observer countries of the SCO include Mongolia, Pakistan, Iran and India while Belarus and Sri Lanka are dialogue partners.

The declaration concluded the SCO would carry on the spirit of peace, common development, cooperation on an equal footing, mutual respect and tolerance, and further strengthen its dialogue and cooperation with the international community to make a great contribution to regional and global peace, stability and prosperity.