The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) members issued a joint communiqué in Shanghai today, saying that the fight against the "three evil forces" remains the organization's top priority.

"It remains the top priority of the organization to combat the threats posed by terrorism, separatism and extremism as well as illegal drug trafficking, which have not diminished but aggravated in scale and degree," says the joint communiqué, which was released after the SCO concluded its annual summit.

Founded in Shanghai on June 15, 2001, the SCO comprises China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

On the day when the organization was founded, the six heads of state signed the Shanghai Pact on fighting terrorism, separatism and extremism. To coordinate SCO members' efforts in fighting the "three evil forces", the SCO set up a regional anti-terrorism agency in Tashkent, capital of Uzbekistan.

The joint communiquésays the heads of state spoke positively of the work done by the SCO regional anti-terrorism structure, and were convinced that this structure has the potential to better perform its duties and carry out its mission.

The SCO members have conducted three joint anti-terrorism military exercises and will hold another one in Russia in 2007.