Chinese premier proposes measures to boost economic cooperation at SCO meeting

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao proposed five measures Wednesday on boosting economic cooperation among member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).

Speaking at a meeting of heads of government of SCO member states in Moscow, Wen said the SCO has seen stronger unity, closer cooperation and rising international influence.

The SCO groups China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.

To further expand economic cooperation among member states, Wen proposed five measures that envisage good policy, better infrastructure, closer agricultural cooperation and increased regional and international exchanges.

First, good policies, institutions and information infrastructure are needed to boost economic ties, Wen said. Member states should ponder and come up with measures to facilitate trade, investment and work on agreements on facilitating international road transport, promoting and protecting investment and take advantage of various channels to expand economic information exchange, he said.

Infrastructure needs to be strengthened, in particular in the energy, telecommunication and transport sectors, the Chinese premier said, urging members to define and implement some priority projects. He called for the utilization of an SCO banking group to provide effective financing support.

Wen proposed to expand agricultural cooperation in areas like research, information exchange, personnel training and farm product processing. He listed water-saving irrigation, soil amelioration, agricultural machinery manufacture and cross-border migratory pest control as priority areas for such cooperation.

Wen also urged better exchange and cooperation among enterprises and localities of member states, especially in such fields as border trade.

In addition, Wen called on member states to increase international exchanges with other regional organizations and international financial institutions.

He also urged full member states to expand cooperation with the observer states in the transport and energy sectors.

At the meeting, the leaders signed an agreement on mutual aid in disaster relief and another on banking cooperation among the member states.

Source: Xinhua