On the morning of June 12, 2006, Assistant Foreign Minister Li Hui, at the invitation of the International Press Center, gave a briefing for domestic and international journalists as well as the information officers from foreign embassies in China, introducing the upcoming summit of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). Director General of the Information Department Liu Jianchao hosted the briefing.

Li said that the July 2005 SCO summit in Astana agreed China would host the 2006 SCO summit. The Chinese side decided to host the summit in Shanghai on June 15. Held on the occasion of the 5th anniversary of the SCO and the 10th anniversary of the "Shanghai Five" mechanism, the summit is both a major event for the organization and one of the most important diplomatic activities of China this year. President Hu Jintao will attend and as the head of the host country chair this historic meeting. President Hu will deliver an important speech at the summit, comprehensively expounding China's policies with the SCO and proposing suggestions on promoting the development of the organization.

Li noted that China attaches great importance to the summit and has set up the preparatory committee composed of people from a number of agencies including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Public Security, Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Culture and the Shanghai Municipality, with State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan as the Director and Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing and Mayor of Shanghai Han Zheng vice directors. Up to now China has completed various preparations. Prior to the summit, the SCO member states have held the meeting of defense ministers, meeting of foreign ministers and meeting of top legislators.

Li said that during the summit the heads of SCO member states will hold talks and meet journalists jointly. Leaders of related countries will hold bilateral meetings. A series of major celebrations will be held to commemorate the 5th anniversary of the SCO. In addition, activities including the Conference on the Establishment of Entrepreneurs Committee of SCO & SCO Industrial and Economic Forum will also be held.

Li said that all the heads of SCO member states will attend the summit. The presidents of Mongolia, Pakistan and Iran and the petroleum and natural gas minister of India, the four observer countries of SCO, will be present at the summit. In addition, President of Afghanistan, Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Commonwealth of Independent States and Deputy Secretary-General of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations will participate in the summit as guests of the host country. The United Nations will also send congratulations on the summit and the 5th anniversary of the SCO.

Talking about the subjects of the summit, Li pointed out that the heads of member states will exchange opinions extensively on the development of the SCO and major international and regional issues of common interest. During the summit, the achievements and experiences of the organization will be reviewed and summarized comprehensively and the future development direction and measures will be studied and identified.

Li said that it is customary that the heads of member states will sign and issue a declaration as the summary political document of the summit. Furthermore, heads of related agencies of member states will sign a number of cooperation documents in the areas of security, economy and education.

Li noted that the summit has drawn wide attention from the international community and the media. Over 700 Chinese and foreign correspondents will arrive at Shanghai to cover the meeting. We welcome them and will provide all possible facilitation and assistance.

Later Li also answered questions of the journalists.

On the question that SCO's activities lack transparency, Li said that the SCO is an open organization. First of all, we have openly elaborated its purposes, main tasks and development direction to the entire world, i.e. strengthening cooperation in such areas as security, economy, trade and humanities, being committed to maintaining regional security, promoting the economic progress of member states in the region, non-alignment, non-conflict and no directing against any third party or country. Secondly, a comprehensive summary document, declaration or statement will be issued after each summit, explaining the major activities of the organization of the year and its plan for the next year. Meanwhile, the SCO maintains close contacts with the United Nations and other international and regional organizations. It is thanks to such high transparency of SCO's activities that the international community gets increasingly deep understanding of the organization and many countries are willing to become its observer.

On whether the Shanghai summit will admit new observers and members, Li answered that in recent years the SCO progresses steadily and draws wide attention from the international community. Some countries apply to become SCO's observer countries or full members, showing that the purposes, principles and development achievements of the organization have been widely accepted by the international community. In 2004 and 2005, the SCO granted observer status to Mongolia, Pakistan, Iran and India. The member states are studying how to conduct cooperation with those observers. They are also carefully studying the applications of other countries for the observer status and will make decision on the basis of agreement through consultations. Currently, there lacks the legal document within the framework of SCO on the issue of accepting new members and hence admission of new members still lacks the legal ground. Our next task will be to formulate related legal documents as soon as possible.

On the question how should the SCO cope with the increasingly serious drug crime in this region, Li said that drug crime not only threats the social stability of countries in this region but also constitutes an important fund source for terrorist and extremist activities. All the SCO member states are the biggest victims of drug crime and give top priority to drug control cooperation. The drug control cooperation agreement signed at the 2004 SCO summit in Tashkent is being implemented faithfully. Afghanistan is a major drug source in this region. The SCO is willing to actively join the international efforts of establishing the "anti-drug zone" around Afghanistan and conduct drug control cooperation with the country within the framework of SCO-Afghanistan contact group.