BEIJING, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- Military cooperation in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) does not threaten any countries or organizations, an officer with Chinese Ministry of National Defense said here Monday.

    "Military cooperation among the SCO member states and countries with SCO observer status is not meant to build a military alliance," Jia Xiaoning, deputy director-general of the ministry'soffice of foreign affairs.

    Delivering a speech at the SCO Defense and Security Forum, which opened here Monday, Jia said the SCO follows the principle of non-alliance and is open to the outside world.

    "Such cooperation can only deepen the trust and friendship between SCO member states, observer countries and their armies. It will not threaten any other countries and organizations," he said.

    The Chinese official said that China advocates a new concept of security based on mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality and cooperation.

    The new concept is "The footstone on which the SCO is founded, " said Jia.

    Jia said China holds that SCO member states and observer countries should play a leading role in regional cooperation. "But we also believe that it is not necessary to exclude other countries and regions...We should keep coordination with other countries and regional cooperative mechanisms."

    Nearly 30 military officers from Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan as well as Mongolia, Pakistan, Iran and India are attending the 10-day forum, which was hosted by the Chinese Ministry of National Defense in Beijing. Enditem