TASHKENT, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- The just-concluded prime ministers' meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) reached consensus on regional and international issues of common concern, injecting fresh impetus into practical cooperation within the regional bloc.

According to a communique issued after the meeting held in the Uzbek capital of Tashkent, heads of government of the six SCO member states -- China, Russia, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan -- agreed to strengthen dialogue, expand fiscal and financial cooperation, and deepen regional trade and investment collaboration, in an effort to elevate the region's status in the world economy.

They also agreed to intensify cultural and people-to-people exchanges, jointly deal with security challenges, and safeguard regional peace and stability and promote common development.

On the sidelines of the SCO meeting, the leaders also held bilateral meetings to detail cooperation plans.

The SCO is an inter-governmental organization founded in Shanghai on June 15, 2001. It covers a total area of 30.2 million square km, with a combined population of 1.53 billion. Statistics show the total economic output of SCO members topped 10 trillion U.S. dollars in 2012.

ECONOMIC, TRADE COOPERATION

The deep impact of the international financial crisis still lingers despite some traces of recovery, the prime ministers said. All SCO members need to secure social and economic growth, enhance cooperation and jointly address such social problems as unemployment, so as to help steer the world economy back to stable and sustained growth.

The prime ministers listed economy and trade, finance, banking, investment, science and technology, innovation, transportation, communication, agriculture, use of alternative energy and energy saving as areas for further mutually beneficial cooperation.

They agreed to intensify multilateral transportation cooperation, and make the development of an international transport corridor a top priority.

The region's potential in transit transport service should also be fully tapped to facilitate and increase the flow of commodities so as to attract more investment.

An agreement opening road transportation between Asia and Europe had been expected to be signed at the prime ministers' meeting to create conditions for an Asia-Europe transport corridor between Lianyungang in east China and St. Petersburg in northwest Russia.

However, the signing did not take place because a member state failed to have the documents ready, said Uzbek Prime Minister Shavkat Mirziyoev.

In a joint declaration issued after the meeting, the heads of government reaffirmed that a key task is to prepare for signing the agreement on international road transportation facilitation at an earliest date.

The heads of government noted the increasing volumes of railway cargo deliveries among the SCO member states and growing railway congestion in the region, calling for joint railway construction projects and prior attention to the development of transport infrastructure.

COMMITMENT TO SECURITY COOPERATION

Security cooperation, a key task of the SCO since its establishment in 2001, will remain the bloc's top priority and primary objective for an extended time in the future.

In a meeting between Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and Mirziyoev, Li said China is willing to deepen cooperation with Uzbekistan in law enforcement and defense, and to set up a security mechanism for major cooperation projects at an early date.

The Chinese leader called for joint efforts to crack down on the "three evil forces" of terrorism, separatism and extremism, including the "East Turkistan" forces.

For his part, Mirziyoev pledged Tashkent's efforts to strengthen security cooperation with Beijing to fight the "three evil forces."

Kyrgyz Prime Minister Zhantoro Satybaldiyev also promised to work with China in cracking down on the "three evil forces."

Russia and China should deepen security cooperation, and strengthen coordination within the SCO framework to improve regional peace and prosperity, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said during his meeting with Li.

In his speech at the prime ministers' meeting, the Chinese premier urged all sides to make counter-terrorism and drug control a top priority in their security cooperation.

CHINA'S PROPOSALS

In a speech at the prime ministers' meeting, Li made a six-point proposal on deepening practical cooperation among the SCO countries.

He said the SCO's Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure should be given an anti-drug function as well to enhance its comprehensive security-safeguarding capabilities.

On road interconnectivity, Li hoped the SCO member countries, which are all located along the "Silk Road Economic Belt," could sign an inter-governmental agreement on international road transport facilitation at an early date, and vigorously participate in the construction of the new Eurasian Continental Bridge and the Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe railway.

In a bid to ensure a smoother traffic flow from east to west, China is willing to provide support in technology, equipment and financing, Li said.

Li also made proposals on promoting trade and investment facilitation, financial cooperation, cooperation in ecological protection, energy cooperation, as well as cultural and people-to-people exchanges.

Leaders of the member states and representatives of the observers and dialogue partners agreed to the "six-point proposal" and spoke highly of China's important role in promoting cooperation among the SCO countries and the SCO's self-building.