The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is not an "oriental NATO," the chief of the regional group said on Tuesday.

"The reports calling the SCO an 'oriental NATO' are totally groundless," SCO Secretary-General Zhang Deguang told reporters at a press briefing in Beijing about the upcoming Shanghai summit, scheduled for June 15.

The organization, established in Shanghai in 2001, comprises China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Mongolia, Iran, Pakistan and India were granted SCO observer status in 2004.

"The upcoming summit is an official and decision-making meeting as well as a celebration marking the fifth anniversary of the SCO's founding," Zhang said.

During the summit, the heads of state of the member countries will review the SCO's achievements over the past five years, summarize related experiences and map out the goals for future cooperation in various fields, Zhang said.

The heads of state will also exchange views on important international and regional issues, Zhang said.

The major achievement of the summit will be a five-year SCO declaration, Zhang said, adding that documents on SCO's organization construction, secretariat and personnel will also come out at the summit.

Leaders of the four observer countries, as well as leaders of some international organizations which have forged official ties with the SCO, have been invited to attend the summit, Zhang said.

The SCO's practice over the past five years has made this regional organization widely recognized, particularly its "Shanghai Spirit," which embodies mutual trust and benefit, equality, respect for cultural diversity and a desire for common development, Zhang said.

The SCO has never sought confrontation with any parties and its aims have nothing to do with becoming a military bloc. The organization will continue to hold aloft the banner of peace, cooperation, openness and non-alignment, Zhang said.

The SCO is the first inter-governmental organization with its headquarters in China.

Source: Xinhua