DUSHANBE, December 15, 2015, Asia-Plus — The 14th Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) prime ministers” meeting is being held in Zhengzhou, the capital city of central China”s Henan Province, from December 14 to December 15.
According to
Xinhua
news agency, the meeting is expected to result in signing of resolutions and deals against the backdrop of economic pressure and terrorism threats.
The meeting participants reportedly include prime ministers of the six SCO member states, China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, and of the observer countries of Afghanistan, Belarus, India, Iran, Mongolia and Pakistan.
They are discussing SCO cooperation in trade, investment, finance, transportation and culture. A statement will be made on regional economic cooperation, reiterating support for regional cooperation including the Belt and Road.
Trade, industrial cooperation, infrastructure and finance are reportedly the priority areas. Trade between SCO member states has dropped off since the beginning of this year.
The meeting participants are also analyzing SCO cooperation and exchange opinions on regional economic cooperation.
During the 15th SCO summit held in Russia in July this year, leaders approved a development strategy until 2025. The 14th SCO prime ministers” meeting has reportedly planned for pragmatic cooperation and given guidance on existing problems.
The meeting participants have also exchanged views and discussed specific measures for anti-terrorism cooperation. Security and economic cooperation are often regarded as the two “wheels” of the bloc, which was founded in 2001.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization currently has six full members — China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Afghanistan, Belarus, India, Iran, Mongolia and Pakistan are six observer states, and SCO’s dialogue partners include Sri Lanka and Turkey.
The Organization’s six full members account for 60% of the land mass of Eurasia and its population is a quarter of the world”s population. With observer states included, its affiliates account for about half of the world”s population.
