China backs Russia's 2015 SCO presidency

DUSHANBE, Sept. 11  -- China supports Russia taking over the presidency of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) next year, Chinese President Xi Jinping said here Thursday.

Xi made the remarks at a meeting with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, ahead of the 14th summit of the SCO, which groups China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

On the upcoming Dushanbe summit, the two leaders agreed that under the current situation, SCO members should strengthen unity, mutual trust and cooperation, and promote the simultaneous advancement of security and economy.

Also, the two leaders maintained that SCO countries should firmly crack down on the "three evil forces" of terrorism, separatism and extremism, and vigorously enhance practical cooperation in various fields, so as to make the SCO a reliable guarantee for the stability and development of its members.

Meanwhile, the two sides pledged to strengthen communication and coordination, increase input, and steer the development of the SCO forward in line with the common interests of the countries in the region.

China, Xi said, supports Russia hosting the 2015 SCO summit in the southwestern city of Ufa.

Besides its six members, the SCO also has Afghanistan, India, Iran, Mongolia and Pakistan as observers, and Belarus, Turkey and Sri Lanka as dialogue partners.