Chinese President Hu Jintao said on Tuesday that the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit meeting on June 15 in Shanghai is expected to be a success.

"During the summit, the heads of the SCO member states will have in-depth exchanges of views on mutually beneficial cooperation and sign important documents," Hu said in an interview in Beijing with journalists from the six SCO member states.

The heads of state of the SCO member countries will attend the summit meeting, along with observers and representatives from countries and international organizations that have established cooperative relations with the SCO.

The summit will review the developments of the organization since it was established five years ago, analyze international and regional situations, study the organization's future development and outline cooperation plans.

"This will help build a harmonious region with sustainable development and common prosperity," Hu said.

Hu hailed the sound development of the organization in the past five years, citing fruitful cooperation among the member states in terms of politics, security, trade, culture and international affairs.

He attributed the rapid growth of the SCO to the "Shanghai Spirit" of mutual trust and benefit, equality, consultation, respect for cultural diversity and desire for common development.

"Although there are big differences among the SCO member states in ideology, culture and level of economic development, the reason why the SCO has made such rapid progress and outstanding achievements lies in our insistence on the Shanghai Spirit," Hu proclaimed.

He added that the Chinese government has played its part by establishing and developing the SCO through a close working relationship with other member states to boost mutual trust and trade cooperation.

"China will make joint efforts with the other countries to lift bilateral relations to a new high and promote new progress for the SCO," Hu promised.

He hailed the joint anti-terrorism exercises conducted by the SCO, adding that they will strengthen their capability to combat terrorism and maintain regional peace.

He also noted that China has allocated US$900 million worth of loans for SCO members. The loans are in the form of preferential buyers credits for SCO member states that purchase Chinese exports.
 
Established in 2001, the SCO comprises China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. In 2004 and 2005, it accepted Mongolia, Iran, Pakistan and India as observers.

(Xinhua News Agency May 31, 2006)