Shanghai Cooperation Organisation member states like China and Russia and four observer nations, including India, would discuss ways to promote regional security, stability and economic cooperation during their summit in Shanghai from June 15.
India, one of the four observer nations of the SCO, a Beijing-based regional security organisation, will be represented by Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Murli Deora, who is expected to have bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the summit.
The one-day summit of the SCO in the eastern Chinese metropolis will be a 'milestone' that marks a new stage for the development of the five-year-old organisation, SCO Secretary General Zhang Deguang said.
"During the June 15 meeting, the heads of state of the member countries will review the SCO's achievements and development over the past five years," Zhang said.
India's observer status in the SCO gives New Delhi an important opportunity to closely interact with China and Russia, the chief promoters of the regional security body, analysts said, adding the three sides have similar views on major international issues of common concern.
China, India and Russia have similar approaches to the maintenance of regional peace, stability and development, the analysts noted. The summit will review the developments of the organisation since it was established five years ago, analyse international and regional situations, study the organisation's future development and outline cooperation plans, they said.
The SCO, established in Shanghai in 2001, comprises China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Since 2004, it has accepted Mongolia, Iran, Pakistan and India as observers.
The six heads of state will draw up the development goals and tasks of the organisation, which is increasingly playing a greater role in promoting regional stability and economic development, he said.
Presidents of Mongolia, Pakistan and Iran, will also attend the summit, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said, adding that the Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai will come as guest of the host country, China.
As preparations are going on smoothly, Zhang said, all parties have reached a consensus on the main agenda of the summit and some documents on development and cooperation are expected to be signed.
On the Iran nuclear issue, Zhang hoped it would be properly settled through negotiations and diplomatic efforts.
The presence of the Iranian President will not conflict with the international efforts to resolve the Iran nuclear issue, he said.
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