On June 16, 2009, the ninth summit of the Council of Heads of Member States of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) was held in Yekaterinburg, Russia. Chinese President Hu Jintao, President of Kazakhstan Nazarbayev, President of Kyrghyzstan Bakiyev, President of Russia Medvedev, President of Tajikistan Rakhmon and President of Uzbekistan Karimov attended the meeting. Hu Jintao delivered a keynote speech at the summit. The heads of member states signed the Yekaterinburg Declaration and issued a Joint Communiqué of Meeting of the Council of Heads of SCO Member States.

The city of Yekaterinburg in June boasts exuberant plants and pleasant weather. The summit kicked off at 10:00 a.m. local time in the Hyatt Regency Yekaterinburg Hotel. A smaller meeting of the heads of SCO member states and the leaders of observer countries was held first, and then was a bigger one of the heads of SCO member states, the leaders of observer countries and the guest of the host country. Participating leaders delivered speeches respectively after Russian President Medvedev who chaired the meeting made the opening address.

In their speeches, the leaders reviewed the development of the SCO since the Dushanbe Summit last year, deeply analyzed the impact of the international financial crisis, and mainly exchanged in-depth opinions on such issues as consolidating solidarity and cooperation, promoting trade and investment facilitation among the member states, stimulating the regional economic recovery and maintaining the regional security.

Delivering an important speech entitled Joining Hands to Tackle the International Financial Crisis and Create a Harmonious and Bright Future at the summit, Hu Jintao noted that the international situation is experiencing unprecedentedly complex and profound changes, the international structure is making major adjustments, countries are increasingly interdependent and the world multi-polarization and economic globalization advance deeply. Meanwhile, food security, energy and resources safety and public health security remain serious, terrorism, drug production and traffic and cross-border organized crimes are rampant and pirates are still unscrupulous. In particular, the international financial crisis continues spreading, which has posed serious impact on the global economy. The world economic situation remains severe, and many economies have plunged into recession and face huge challenges of social stability.

He stressed that faced with the international financial crisis we should boost confidence, support each other, pull through together, and try our best to promote cooperation within the SCO in such fields as politics, security, economy, culture and education, increase our own strength and run our own affairs well.

I. Enhance political mutual trust. We should make continuous efforts to implement the Treaty on Long-term Good-neighborly Relations, make best use of the meeting and consultation mechanisms of the SCO at different levels and through various channels to strengthen strategic dialogue, coordinate policies, build consensus and promote the common development and prosperity of member states, maintain the regional peace and stability and push the development of international political and economic order in a more fair and reasonable direction.

II. Deepen economic cooperation. We should join hands to tackle the impact of the international financial crisis and stimulate the recovery of world economy. We should make effective use of the important platform of SCO to intensify coordination of macroeconomic and financial policies, accelerate the implementation of network projects in the fields of energy, transportation and telecommunication, promote the cooperation on emerging industries, cultivate new economic growth points, advance trade facilitation and maintain an open and free trade and investment environment.

III. Reinforce security cooperation. Hu suggested starting from signing a convention against terrorism to encourage member states to cooperate on arresting criminals and repatriating the suspects, extending the security cooperation model of member states for major international events to the observer countries, stepping up the efforts of cracking down on drug production and traffic, studying and working out a framework agreement on fighting cross-border organized crime and implementing the consensus of member states on anti-money laundering and security of energy transmission pipelines.

IV. Expand cultural and educational exchanges. Cooperation in the fields of culture, education, health and tourism should be strengthened and the exchanges of youth be facilitated. The Chinese side welcomes the increasing cooperation of all parties concerned on disaster relief and hopes to reach consensus on the establishment of disaster relief center at an early date.

V. Adhere to opening up. China supports the organization in continuing to deepen the pragmatic cooperation with the observer countries in an all-round manner and inviting them to participate in the cooperation in such fields as anti-terrorism, drug control, traffic, energy, disaster relief and culture in order to make concerted efforts to promote the stability and development of the region. China sincerely welcomes Belarus and Sri Lanka as the dialogue partners of the organization.

Hu pointed out that China will honor its commitment and continue to support the multilateral and bilateral project cooperation within the SCO framework. To that end, China will provide US$10 billion of credit to support the efforts of SCO member states of addressing the international financial crisis. In addition, China will send trade and investment promotion delegations to the other member states to stimulate foreign trade and mutual investment.

He said that China adheres to the road of peaceful development and will, as always, pursue the independent foreign policy of peace, stick to the foreign policy with neighboring countries of being good friends and partners, join hands with other countries to cope with challenges and share opportunities and contribute more to peace and development in this region and the world at large.

Medvedev said that to take an active part in the SCO cooperation in various fields is a priority of Russia’s foreign policy. Russia supports the SCO member states in enhancing mutual trust and understanding and effectively tackling the threats and challenges. Russia is committed to strengthening partnership, reinforcing cohesiveness and increasing influence of the organization in order to well cope with the challenges of the international financial crisis. Parties concerned should step up cooperation within the SCO framework and implement the consensus reached at the G20 London financial summit. Cooperation in the fields of food security, energy safety and disaster relief should be enhanced and joint efforts be made to fight terrorism and drug smuggling.

Nazarbayev said that Central Asia still faces severe security threats. It is an area of focus for the SCO to maintain regional security and stability. The organization should strengthen cooperation on drug control and anti-terrorism so as to make its due contribution to keep stability and security of the region and the world at large. It should reinforce cooperation to address the impact of the international financial crisis, promote transportation network construction and pay great attention to food security and environmental safety.

Bakiyev noted that the SCO faces complicated situation and enjoys great development potential as well. Concerted efforts should be made to maintain peace and stability, fight the “three forces” and reinforce trade and economic cooperation. China’s US$10 billion of credit support is of great significance to implementing the cooperation projects of the organization.

Rakhmon emphasized the importance of enhancing mutual trust, expanding cooperation, consolidating political and economic resources, handling the cross-border challenges together and conducting mutually beneficial and win-win economic cooperation. Faced with the impact of the international financial crisis, countries should learn from the successful experience of SCO members including China and cope with the crisis jointly. Therefore, it is necessary to raise cooperation in the financial and economic sectors, promote the common development of member states, intensify cooperation in such fields as traffic, transportation and agriculture and advance regional economic growth.

Karimov pointed out that the SCO enjoys an ever expanding foundation and has stepped further to achieve its goals. It plays an important role of maintaining regional security and addressing international financial crisis and has built a greater reputation on the international arena. The SCO should continue to promote cooperation in key areas, maintain regional security and stability, work hard to cope with the international financial crisis, oppose trade protectionism and eliminate tariff barriers.

The leaders of observer countries also addressed the summit. They noted that in front of the global threats the SCO should reinforce cooperation, share experience, increase exchanges, broaden cooperation, cope with such threats as terrorism and cross-border crimes together, promote the reform of global governance structures including the international financial system and push forward the sustainable development.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai who was present at the summit as the guest of the host country expressed gratitude to the SCO for helping Afghanistan maintain peace and stability and fight against terrorism and drug smuggling. He also indicated willingness of cooperating with the SCO member states to handle the threats of terrorism and protect the regional prosperity and stability.

The heads of SCO member states, the leaders of observer countries and the guest of the host country took group photos at the summit.

After the summit ended, the heads of 6 member states signed the Yekaterinburg Declaration of Heads of SCO Member States and attended the signing ceremony of other important documents.

The summit issued a Joint Communiqué of Meeting of the Council of Heads of SCO Member States.

Later the heads of SCO member states, the leaders of observer countries and the guest of the host country attended the banquet hosted by President Medvedev.

Ling Jihua, Wang Huning and Dai Bingguo were present at the above activities.

On the afternoon of June 15, the heads of SCO member states held a small meeting and then participated in the informal dinner held by Medvedev.