Foreign ministers reached principle agreements in a meeting on Saturday to set up a Secretariat in Beijing and regional anti-terrorism centre in Bishkek.

A joint communique released after the meeting stated that they also worked out common approaches to the organization's budget.

The ministers signed interim procedures for cooperation of the SCO members with international organizations and sovereign countries.

The ministers stressed the necessity to unite efforts of all the countries in the world in the fight against international terrorism, separatism, extremism, organized crime, illegal drug and weapon trafficking.

The communique called for stepping up the fight against proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and means of their delivery, depravation of environment, exhaustion of nature resources, massive illegal migration, poverty, backwardness and AIDS.

They urged the United Nations to promptly adopt the comprehensive convention for the eradication of international terrorism and the convention for the prevention of nuclear terrorism.

They also called for the intensification of the leading role of the UN in combating terrorism.

The ministers put strengthening stability in Central Asia as a priority of SCO.

They reaffirmed their willingness to maintain co-operation with all international organizations in the region.

The ministers expressed concern over the revival of separatist tendencies in Asia and the strengthening link between terrorism and separatism.

They highly praised international cooperation in eradicating terrorism in Afghanistan, but pointed out that drug production is on the rise there, the communique said.

It called for the establishment of so-called "security belts'' along the Afghan border.

Ministers supported collective and individual efforts to restore peace and stability in the Middle East, and urged the conflicting sides to unconditionally comply with UN Security Council resolutions.

They expressed the hope that the resolution and resumption of international inspections in Iraq will pave the way for a peaceful settlement.

They advocated a nuclear-free status for the Korean Peninsula and dispute settlement via peaceful dialogue. Peace and stability on the peninsula would be beneficial for all, the communique said.

The ministers called for the establishment of working contacts between SCO and ASEAN with the aim of broadening the mutual exchange of information and cooperation.

Nuclear-free zones should be set up in Asia with consideration of the interests and concerns of all countries, the communique said.

SCO is ready in accordance with the tenet and principles of the UN Charter and on the basis of equality to develop substantial cooperation with all interested states and international organizations, the communique noted.

(China Daily November 25, 2002)