Astana (AsiaNews) – Cooperation and shared views on the fight against terrorism, international politics and the economy are three of the issues that will be discussed at the 5th summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) that opened today in Astana (Kazakhstan). Leaders from China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan e Uzbekistan are attending—Pakistani Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and Indian Foreign Minister Natwar Singh are present as observers.

Chinese President Hu Jintao said that collaboration among SCO members was desirable, adding that that there were strong chances that it would involve all areas of interests to member states.

The construction of pipelines to ship oil and natural gas eastward is also on the discussion table. Reactivating the currently unutilised Russian oil network is under consideration.

Hu arrived in Kazakhstan after a summit in Russia with Russian President Vladimir Putin where the two leaders discussed this last possibility.

In a joint statement released on July 4, the Chinese and Russian leaders said that they shared a common position on terrorism, UN reform and the North Korean nuclear question. They also agreed that the world had changed and become multipolar and that this required a new world order. 

Both Putin and Hu said that the SCO was an important factor in shaping international politics and in creating a different, more just and rational economic order.

Mr Hu stressed that, although the SCO was set up in order to fight the three evils terrorism, extremism, and separatism, it offered a great potential in terms of economic cooperation and trade.

In a joint statement that confirmed the 'statement of intent', Mr Hu and Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev agreed to give their full support to ensure the completion of the Atasu-Alataw Pass oil pipeline. They also announced plans to build a gas pipeline between their respective countries.

The summit is taking place amidst important changes in Central Asia. In Kyrgyzstan, a popular revolt forced President Askar Akayev out of power. New elections have not however taken place.

In Uzbekistan, its close US partner has called for democratic reforms and an international commission of inquiry following a bloody crackdown that left hundreds of unarmed demonstrators dead. But Uzbek President Islam Karimov rejected the US request and was instead welcomed with full honours in Beijing.

At NATO's June summit, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Ivanov stated there was no need for an international inquiry into the Uzbek events.

Referring to the Uzbek crisis, SCO Secretary General Zhang Deguang reiterated his organisation's commitment to fighting terror following the "lesson of Andijan" which showed the need to be on guard against terrorism. (PB)