The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) will join
international efforts to build an anti-drug belt around Afghanistan
to combat drug smuggling, said Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister
Li Hui in Beijing Monday.
Li made the remarks at a press briefing for the upcoming SCO
summit slated for June 15 in Shanghai.
"Afghanistan is a major source of drugs," Li said, adding SCO
member states are major victims of drug crimes.
"SCO is willing to actively join international efforts to build
an anti-drug belt around Afghanistan, and conduct anti-drug
cooperation with the country under the framework of SCO-Afghanistan
liaison group," he said.
Li said drug crimes not only threaten regional peace and
stability but also serve as a major source of money for terrorism
and extremism activities.
Established in 2001, the SCO groups China, Kazakhstan,
Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Since 2004, the
organization has accepted Mongolia, Iran, Pakistan and India as
observers.
Heads of states of the six SCO member countries as well as the
observers will attend the upcoming summit. They are expected to
issue a declaration to summarize SCO's work in the past year and
blueprint its task for the coming year.
President Hu Jintao will preside over the summit and deliver a
key-note speech on China's policies towards SCO and its suggestion
on the body's development.
Afghan President Hamid Karzai, Executive Secretary Vladimir
Rushailo of the Commonwealth of Independent States and Deputy
Secretary-General Wilfrido. V. Villacorta of the Association of
Southeast Asian Nations will attend the summit as guests.
A conference marking the founding of SCO businessmen commission
and an industrial and commercial summit will also be held on the
sidelines of the event.
Li said China has arranged for activities for Iranian President
Mahmud Ahmadinejad according to SCO regulations and international
convention.
"President Ahmadinejad will deliver a speech at the summit as
other heads of states do," he said.
In line with the organization's regulations, SCO
Secretary-General Zhang Deguang will end his three-year tenure at
the end of 2006.
"Next secretary-general will come out of Kazakhstan according to
the Russian alphabetical order," Li said.
He also refuted criticism on SCO's lack of "transparency,"
saying the body's activities are "open to the world" and its
conferences are "open for reporters."
Altogether 720 journalists have applied to report the summit,
according to Li.
(Xinhua News Agency June 12, 2006)
