TAJIK PRESIDENT SEES SCO IMPORTANT FACTOR IN REGIONAL, WORLD POLITICS

Rakhmonov said the five-year history of the SCO had fully demonstrated the importance and indispensability of the organization, which, to some extent, was a response from the countries in the region to the change of the world situation.

In a recent interview with Xinhua and other Chinese news media, Rakhmonov said the establishment of the organization, as described in its founding declaration, conformed to the developing trend of today's world, the realities of the region, and as the fundamental interests of the peoples of all the member countries.

With its working agenda covering short-term and long-term interests of every member country, the SCO has created a new mechanism for international cooperation to tackle challenges and deepen political, economic and cultural exchanges, he said.

Since its establishment, the SCO had expanded its mission and given top priority to maintaining regional security and stability as well as to creating favorable conditions for sustainable development, he said.

The SCO member countries had signed a series of documents that lay a solid legal basis for fighting terrorism, separatism, extremism, drug smuggling and organized crime. This had been strengthened by joint efforts of the member countries, and the SCO's anti-terror institution had played a key role of coordination, he added.

Since Tajikistan has a 1,300-km common border with Afghanistan and has become a conduit for Afghan drugs to flow into Europe, Rakhmonov also proposed the establishment of a unified center within the SCO framework to combat drug smuggling.

TAJIK PRESIDENT SAYS SCO HAS HUGE POTENTIAL TO DEVELOP

The SCO had great potential to develop, as its member countries enjoyed a high level of mutual trust, equality, openness and were ready for dialogue at any time, Rakhmonov said.

He said the SCO's practice over the past five years had shown its vital importance in regional and world politics, and its member countries, with different civilizations and religious beliefs, had set a good example for the rest of the world on how to seek consensus and work for common interests.

The future practice of the SCO would be more effective because the organization had clear principles and vested priorities and plans for development, he said.

He said economic and security cooperation should continue to dominate the SCO's agenda, and this would ensure the organization's effectiveness and rapid reaction to the world's changing situation.

With its wide representation and great economic potential, the SCO would become more attractive to other countries, said Rakhmonov.

On the cooperation between the SCO and other regional and international organizations, he said a mechanism should be created which was interactive and complementary.

No matter how the regional and world situation changes, the SCO should always be a driving force committed to peace and cooperation, and security and development.

Speaking about the forthcoming SCO summit to be held on June 15 in Shanghai, Rakhmonov believed that it would serve as a venue for the member states to discuss all the pressing issues and work out ways to improve the organization's effectiveness.

RAKHMONOV SAYS TAJIKISTAN READY TO FURTHER IMPROVE COOPERATION WITH CHINA

Tajikistan was ready to further improve its cooperation in various fields with China, and make joint efforts to ensure the continued success of the SCO, the president said.

The establishment of a friendly relationship with China was one of the great achievements that Tajikistan had made since its independence nearly 15 years ago, he said in his interview here shortly ahead of the summit of the SCO heads of state to be held in Shanghai.

Celebrations were planned to be held next year to mark the 15th anniversary of the establishment of the two countries' diplomatic relations, the president added.

Regarding political contacts, Rakhmonov said he and Chinese President Hu Jintao had held talks on different occasions over expanding cooperation bilaterally or within a multilateral framework.

Over the past 15 years, Tajikistan and China had solved the complicated border issue successfully, which laid a good foundation for further bilateral cooperation, Rakhmonov said.

He mentioned in particular the opening of the Karasu pass on the Tajik-Chinese border.

"It is an important event in the history of the Tajik-Chinese relations, since it was the first time that the two countries were linked by motor traffic," Rakhmonov said.

Trade between the two countries was developing rapidly and China's influence on the Tajik economy was also growing, he said.

The president expressed satisfaction with the Tajik-Chinese trade volume which was increasing every year. In 2005, bilateral trade between the two countries had doubled from the previous year, he said.

The Tajik government was now trying to further expand and deepen bilateral trade relations with China, making use of the advantages of the two countries being so close to each other, and the fact that they had complementary economies, the president said.

The two sides were now busily negotiating possible extensive economic cooperation, which would be mutually beneficial, Rakhmonov said. He hoped it could start soon.

Other cooperation in military, judicial, cultural and educational areas had also yielded fruit, he added.

Talking about bilateral cooperation in fighting against the "three evil forces" of terrorism, separatism and extremism, Rakhmonov said Tajikistan and China had been actively fighting the three forces together within the framework of SCO, and would continue the fight on the legal basis of the bilateral treaty signed in 2003.

Rakhmonov noted that a series of anti-terrorism maneuvers had been practiced in recent years within the SCO framework.

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.

The heads of state of the six SCO member countries will attend the summit meeting from June 15 in Shanghai, along with observers and representatives from countries and international organization that have established cooperative relations with the SCO.