SCO summit marks fresh start, Xi says

Accession of Pakistan and India a key issue for the gathering in Uzbekistan

Chinese President Xi Jinping (R,front) and his wife Peng Liyuan are greeted by Uzbek Prime Minister Shavkat Mirziyoev (L,front) and Governor of Bukhara Province Muhiddin Esanov upon their arrival at Bukhara International Airport, Uzbekistan, June 21, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua]

China sees the upcoming 16th Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit as a new starting point to enhance cooperation among members, President Xi Jinping said on Tuesday as he arrived in Uzbekistan.

Xi is visiting the country and attending the summit, which is scheduled for Thursday and Friday.

The summit coincides with the 15th anniversary of the six-nation group that works together on anti-terrorism, security and other issues.

In a signed article published in a local newspaper, Xi said this year's summit is of great significance in summarizing experiences and charting future cooperation plans.

The major document to emerge from the summit is expected to be the Action Plan for 2016-20. This includes specific measures in areas such as politics, security, economic affairs and culture, according to Uzbekistan's Deputy Foreign Minister Anvar Nasirov.

Li Jinfeng, a senior researcher on SCO, Russian and Central Asian studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said the members are facing problems such as terrorism, separatism and extremism penetrating Central Asia, and cracking down on these three threats should be prioritized.

Sun Zhuangzhi, an expert on Russian studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said that although the SCO is 15 years old, internal economic cooperation remains inadequate.

The Silk Road Economic Belt — which links China with Europe through Central and Western Asia — will inject new momentum into members' economies, Sun said.

The accession of Pakistan and India to the organization will be another key issue at the summit, according to officials from member countries.