Leaders of Shanghai Cooperative Organization (SCO) member countries on Friday agreed to jointly address challenges to their national security and laid out a framework to deepen their economic, social and political cooperation.

A communique released after the meeting in the Russian city of Ufa announces that all six countries in the organization will collaborate to tackle the spread of terrorism, extremism and the illegal trade of narcotics within their borders.

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During his speech, Russian President Vladamir Putin voiced concerns over the spread of terrorism and illegal narcotic products from Afghanistan to countries within the SCO.  Putin noted that the influence of the Islamic State (IS) has been steadily increasing, along with the illegal sale of narcotics across borders, according to RFE/RL.

President Xi Jingping, who echoed the sentiments of the Russian leader, highlighted the need for the SCO to deepen cooperation with Afghanistan on security and assist the nation on its journey to peace and economic recovery.

Xi highlighted the importance of honoring the values that inspired the formation of the SCO, which includes building trust and equality, as well as co-operating to further development and the collective interest.  He explained that it is necessary for the organization to develop its own source of funding to enhance cooperation and underscored the need to develop transportation facilities to easily link member countries and promote people-to-people exchanges. President Xi also discussed plans for infrastructural projects in member states and increasing people-to-people exchanges.

At the meeting, SCO leaders laid the groundwork for the inclusion of Pakistan and India into the organization with full membership status. Nepal, Cambodia, Azerbaijan and Armenia were also made dialogue partners and Belarus was made an observer.

Xi, who welcomed these nations into their new roles, highlighted the need for the expansion of the SCO to give the bloc greater clout. The SCO is a Eurasian organization composed of countries who have come together to safeguard and strengthen their economic, politics and military interests. At the moment, there are only six countries in the organization - China, Russia, Uzberkistan, Tajikstan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.

During the meeting, the leaders approved an SCO Development Strategy for the next decade. They also expressed support for the Silk Road Economic Belt, which will connect their economies, and the New Development Bank (NDB), which BRICS leaders agreed to create earlier in the week.

TagsShanghai Cooperative Organization (SCO), 15th Shanghai Cooperative Organization Summit, New Development Bank (NDB), BRICS