Ministry of Foreign Affairs
People’s Republic of China
Full Text of the Joint Interview of Journalists from the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Member States on President Hu Jintao
Updated: May 30, 2006 00:00

On the morning of May 30, 2006, Chinese President Hu Jintao accepted a joint interview of journalists from the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states, i.e. Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and China. The full text of the interview is as follows:

President Hu Jintao: Good morning, journalist friends!

The 6th SCO summit meeting will be held in Shanghai on June 15. I am very glad to take the joint interview of our journalist friends from the member states prior to the meeting and would like to extend gratitude for your interest in and positive report on the SCO.

This year marks the 5th anniversary of the SCO and the 10th anniversary of its predecessor, the "Shanghai Five" mechanism. The summit meeting this year has special significance. During the summit, the heads of the SCO member states will discuss the blueprint of development of the organization, exchange in-depth views on promoting the mutually beneficial cooperation among member states in such fields as politics, security, economy and humanities and sign and issue important documents. Leaders of the SCO observer countries and countries and international organizations that have established cooperative relations with the SCO will also be invited to the summit. Currently, preparations for the summit are well underway.

I believe with the concerted efforts of the member states and other parties concerned the summit will be a complete success.

Now I would be happy to take questions from you.

Journalist from Egemen Kazakhstan (Independent Kazakhstan): Would you comment on the path of the SCO since its establishment 5 years ago? Has the SCO grown into a mature international organization? How to realize harmony and common development within the organization in view of the different national conditions of member states?

President Hu: At the end of last century and the beginning of this century, the international situation experienced fundamental changes, so did the geopolitical pattern in Eurasia, presenting both challenges and opportunities to countries in the region. Under such circumstances, neighboring countries including China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan hope to strengthen the good-neighborly friendship, mutual trust and mutually beneficial cooperation, maintain regional stability and seek common development. It is driven by such a desire that we established the SCO. Over the past 5 years, with the joint efforts of its member states, the organization has achieved fruitful development results mainly in the following 5 areas: first, dozens of cooperation documents have been passed, which lays down and improves the legal foundation of the organization and builds a stable cooperation mechanism; second, effective cooperation has been conducted in the security area, which has helped the maintenance of the overall stability in the region; third, close economic and trade cooperation in the principles of reciprocity, mutual benefit and win-win outcome has been carried out and a number of large cooperation projects have been discussed and launched, which has promoted the economic growth of member states; fourth, exchanges and cooperation in the field of humanities keep deepening; fifth, the SCO has been engaging in active international cooperation and increasing external contacts with growing influence as a result.

Although there are fairly big differences in ideologies, cultural backgrounds and economic development levels among the SCO member states, the basic reason that the organization has made such rapid progress and outstanding achievements within a short period of five years lies in our adherence to the "Shanghai Spirit" of mutual trust and benefit, equality, consultation, respect for cultural diversity and the desire for common development to ensure the harmonious co-existence and common development of the member states.

Journalist from Slovo Kyrgyzstan: The SCO summit meeting this year also marks the 5th anniversary of this organization. What is China's expectation on this summit? What topics will be discussed during the summit? What is the significance of the summit for the future growth of the SCO?

President Hu: Today, the international situation remains complicated. The regional situation in Eurasia faces multiple challenges. All countries in the region are striving to safeguard peace and stability and promote their economic development. Against such a background the Shanghai Summit should be united, pragmatic and important and open a way for the future. The summit will carefully review the development of the organization since it was established five years ago, comprehensively analyze current international and regional situations, study the organization's future development and outline detailed cooperation plans and measures. I believe that these efforts will build the region into a harmonious region with lasting peace and common prosperity.

Journalist from All-Russian State Television and Radio Co. (VGTRK): To jointly safeguard regional peace, security and stability is an important task of the SCO. What security threats do you think this region is facing? How will the SCO deal with those threats? What measures have been adopted? How should the SCO cope with the challenges posed by such issues as security and drugs within the territory of Afghanistan?

President Hu: To jointly safeguard regional peace, security and stability is the original intention of the SCO as well as one of its core tasks at the current stage. At the very day of the establishment of the SCO, the heads of member states have signed the Shanghai Convention on Combating Terrorism, Separatism and Extremism, and later the regional anti-terrorist structure was set up in Tashkent. As one of the first international organizations holding the anti-terrorist banner, the SCO plays an important part in coordinating national anti-terrorist cooperation. In recent years the SCO has held three joint anti-terrorist exercises and its member states conducted fruitful cooperation in the fields of information exchange and judicial assistance. Next year the member states of the SCO will hold another joint anti-terrorist exercise in Russia. All those measures have exerted and will continue to exert positive influence on raising the joint anti-terrorist capacity of the organization and maintaining regional peace and stability.

Cross-border drug trafficking and other related criminal activities are among the most serious problems to be tackled by the SCO. The member states of the SCO have signed the Drug Control Cooperation Agreement. The organization also actively helps the Afghan government to control drugs and realize peaceful reconstruction at the earliest possible date. Last year it established a liaison group with Afghanistan. Currently it is considering opening the Drug Control Agreement to Afghanistan. President of Afghanistan Mr. Karzai is especially invited to the summit as the guest of the host country. I believe that this will promote the drug control efforts in this region.

Journalist from Tajikistani Jumhuriyat (Republic): Would you comment on the external activities of the SCO? How will the SCO further demonstrate its openness and constructive role in international and regional affairs?

President Hu: Following the principles of openness and nonalignment, the SCO advocates the new concept of security externally and adheres to the "Shanghai Spirit" internally. It is neither a closed nor an exclusive organization from the very beginning and is not targeted against any third party. Over the past five years, the SCO accepted Mongolia, India, Pakistan and Iran as observers and established official relations with such international and regional organizations as the United Nations, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and the Eurasian Economic Community. An increasing number of countries have expressed the will of establishing relations with the SCO.

Facts have proven that the SCO is an important force safeguarding regional and global peace and stability, promoting the democratization of international relations, and enhancing the building of a harmonious region and world. The SCO will continue to maintain a constructive attitude to reinforce the consensus of all members within the SCO and work together with related countries to safeguard peace and stability in this region and promote joint development and prosperity of all countries in this region.

Journalist from Jahon (a news agency of the Uzbek Ministry of Foreign Affairs): What's your comment on the current economic and trade cooperation within the framework of the SCO? What are the priority areas of cooperation? You once declared that the Chinese government would provide other member states with $900 million of preferential export buyer's credit in a bid to boost the economic and trade cooperation among the member states. What about the implementation of the loan?

President Hu: All member states attach great importance to the economic and trade cooperation within the framework of the SCO. We have signed the Outline on the Multilateral Economic and Trade Cooperation among Member States and the plans on the implementation of the outline. We have identified 127 projects to be completed jointly by all the member states and set up 7 expert working groups on quality inspection, customs, e-commerce, investment promotion, transport, energy, and telecommunications to study and coordinate the cooperation in related areas. At the Tashkent Summit In 2004, I declared on behalf of the Chinese government that China would offer $900 million of preferential export buyer's credit to other member states of the SCO. At the Tashkent Summit In 2005, I declared once again on behalf of the Chinese government that the Chinese side would offer more preferential conditions for the implementation of the loan. At present, the loan has been basically put in place.

Generally, the economic and trade cooperation within the framework of this organization enjoys huge potential and bright prospects. So long as we make concerted efforts, we will surely achieve substantial results and bring benefit to the people of all member states.

Journalist from CCTV (China): How do you look at the development prospect of the SCO? What was the role of China in the development of the SCO over the past 5 years since its establishment? What contributions will China make to the development of the SCO?

President Hu: The SCO enjoys a bright prospect for future development. Firstly, the member states of the SCO are geologically close, historically similar, and culturally interlinked. The member states have a history of traditional friendship and exchanges; therefore enjoy unique advantages for cooperation. Secondly, all the member states of the SCO are confronted with the realistic task of boosting economic and social progress and improving the living standards of their people as well as the practical requirement for safeguarding their own security and stability. The member states all have a real desire to promote their own development and deal with the challenges together through cooperation within the framework of the organization. Thirdly, the SCO, through 5 years of growth, has built up a well-established organizational structure and legal system and accumulated important experience in all fronts of work, which lays a solid foundation for the future development.

The Chinese government always gives top priority to the building and development of the SCO, and this is an inevitable choice for China to implement the diplomatic guideline concerning neighboring countries of "being a good neighbor and a good partner" and achieve peaceful development. Over the past years, China and other member states have made concerted efforts to enhance the good neighborly friendship and mutual trust, increase the input in regional economic and trade cooperation and conduct the exchanges and dialogues in the field of humanities. All member states have played their due roles in the establishment and growth of this organization. I'm convinced that with the concerted efforts of all member states, the SCO will surely develop into an organization featuring greater solidarity, more pragmatic cooperation and more effective actions and an organization that holds high the banner of peace, development and cooperation. The Chinese side will, as always, make our contribution to the development of this organization.

Journalist from Rossiiskaia gazeta (the Russian daily): This year marks the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the "Shanghai Five" mechanism and the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the strategic partnership between China and Russia. During the Shanghai Summit, President Hu will hold a series of bilateral meetings with the leaders of other member states including President Putin. What is your view on the status quo and the future of China-Russia relationship? What is your comment on the relationship between China and other member states of the SCO?

President Hu: This year marks the 10th anniversary of the establishment of China-Russia strategic partnership. Next year will be the 15th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and other member states of the SCO, namely Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. The relationships between China and these countries have withstood the test of fluctuating international situation over the past years and are becoming increasingly closer and mature.

Russia is one of the most important strategic partners of China. With the joint efforts of both sides, the bilateral relationship has reached an unprecedented high level. There is a significant increase of strategic elements in this relationship. The volume of bilateral trade has maintained a fast growth during the past 7 consecutive years and major progress has been achieved in the areas of energy and investment cooperation. Both countries have maintained effective consultations and cooperation in international and regional affairs. Not long ago, President Putin made a successful visit to China. China and Russia held the Year of Russia and the Year of China events respectively, which created valuable opportunities for the deepening of bilateral relations in an all-round manner. The Chinese side would like to work with the Russian side to continue enhancing political mutual trust, deepening strategic coordination and advancing the development of bilateral relations.

China and Kazakhstan established the strategic partnership last year and the bilateral ties entered a new development phase, with political mutual trust constantly consolidating, pragmatic cooperation gradually expanding, and exchanges in the field of humanities getting more frequent. I am satisfied with the development of bilateral relations. Following the Shanghai Summit, I will go to Almaty to attend the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA) at the invitation of President Nursultan Nazarbayev.

The relationship between China and Kyrgyzstan has been developing smoothly in recent years. We have completely resolved the boundary issue and signed the Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation and the Outline on the 10-Year Cooperation, laying a solid foundation for the further growth of bilateral ties. In a few days, President Kurmanbek Bakiev will visit China for the first time and I am confident that his visit will definitely inject new vitalities into the development of bilateral relations.

The development momentum of China-Kazakhstan is encouraging. New achievements have been made with the bilateral cooperation in the areas of economy, trade and infrastructure including transport and communications. China would like to strengthen the China-Tajikistan relationship and deepen the pragmatic cooperation in all fields for the benefit of the two countries and their people.

China and Uzbekistan signed the Treaty on Friendly and Cooperative Partnership last year, laying a solid legal foundation for the long-term stability and development of bilateral relationship. The two countries enjoy political mutual trust, complementary advantages in economy and cultural exchanges. For the next step, both sides will continue to implement the achievements made by President Karimov during his visit to China last year in a bid to upgrade the China-Uzbekistan relations to a new level.

The member states of the SCO have been maintaining sound bilateral ties, which are of great significance to safeguarding regional peace and stability and promoting joint development. All member states share a strong desire to boost bilateral ties. I am looking forward to meeting with the heads of states of the SCO member states during the Shanghai Summit so as to exchange in-depth opinions with them on bilateral relations and international and regional issues of common concern. The Chinese side would like to work with all other member states to lift bilateral relations to new levels and push for constant development of the SCO.