Leaders of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) gathered Tuesday in Astana to carve out plans to strengthen economic and security cooperation within the regional bloc.

The leaders of the organization, which groups China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, discussed measures to strengthen unity and further cooperation in economy, security and people-related affairs. They also exchanged views on major international issues.

The leaders agreed to grant SCO observer status to India, Iran and Pakistan.

At the end of the summit in the Kazakh capital, the heads of state issued a declaration on strengthening cooperation within the organization.

All the tasks set at the Tashkent summit last year aimed at strengthening the SCO have been fulfilled, and the organization steadily progresses toward developing multilateral cooperation of the member states and is actively engaged in interaction with other international organizations and countries, says the declaration.

The leaders believe the decision to grant observer status to India, Iran and Pakistan "will expand the capacity of the organization to develop multilateral and mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields," the declaration says.

The heads of state support necessary reforms of the United Nations to improve the world body's efficiency and prestige and reiterate the principle of the most broadly-based consensus through consultations, it says. They oppose deadlines for the UN reform or rush voting on draft proposals that lack consensus, says the declaration.

The SCO leaders support the efforts of Central Asian nations to ensure peace, security and stability and advocate an active role of the SCO in promoting stability and economic development in Central Asia. They believe it is necessary to unite efforts in order to effectively face new challenges and threats to the international and regional security and stability, the declaration says.

At the summit, SCO member states signed agreements on fighting the three "evil forces" of terrorism, separatism and extremism and on mutual help in emergency relief in disasters.

The next SCO summit will be held in China in 2006.

Source: Xinhua