On 20 April, 2006 Secretary-General Zhang Deguang took part in an opening session of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation symposium on drug trafficking issues and delivered a speech. The full text of his speech is as follows:

Distinguished guests,

Dear colleagues

    I have gladly received an invitation to participate in this symposium, which focusses on the fight against narcotics. On behalf of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Secretariat I would like to congratulate everyone on the start of this symposium and to thank the Chinese side for their initiative to hold this workshop. I am taking this opportunity to extend a warm welcome to the delegates from SCO member and observer states.

    The fifth anniversary of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation is drawing near. Holding this symposium in the run-up to the Shanghai summit of SCO leaders is important for discussion of ways, forms and mechanisms of cooperation on drug trafficking and further promotion of comprehensive practical cooperation in all security spheres, including the fight against narcotics and terrorism in the SCO framework.

    Narcotics are the common evil of humanity and often the root cause of economic backwardness and social disorder in a country or a region. An uncontrolled spread of narcotics does not only do immediate harm to the physical and mental health of people, but also poses a big threat to economic development and social progress, closely intertwines with terrorism, money laundering, illicit arms trade and other kinds of transnational crime and is a key factor of instability in a country and across the region. The prevention of drug production and the struggle against drug trafficking are important components of the fight against terrorism, which help to cut off sources of financing terrorism and eliminate its material base. The necessity, urgency and importance of fight against narcotics is more than obvious.

    The fight against drug-related crimes is a joint responsibility of the international community, which requires efforts and cooperation from all its members. Since its creation, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation has regarded the protection of peace and stability in the region and the promotion of economic cooperation as its primary task, and attached great importance to cooperation in the fight against narcotics. The SCO Charter provides that struggle against the spread of narcotic substances is one of the Organisation¡¯s basic goals and tasks. In the past few years all member states have worked to lay foundations in this field by signing an agreement on the struggle against narcotic substances, holding expert-level meetings, proposing to establish anti-narcotic belt around Afghanistan and launching the SCO-Afghanistan Contact Group. We may say that so far we have created a solid framework for our cooperation in the fight against narcotics. At the same time we are, of course, faced with a number of tasks dealing with enhancing the effectiveness of cooperation, improving mechanisms, strengthening cooperation tendencies etc. I hope that all sides in accordance with principles of incremental progress and pragmatism will display their individual advantages, increase information exchange and intensify their work on the training of skilled personnel for law enforcement agencies, planning of joint operations, elaboration of cooperation programmes and achievement of substantial results.

    I am confident that this symposium will play an active role in tackling drug trafficking issues and contribute to further results from security cooperation in the SCO framework.

    In conclusion, I would like to wish this symposium a great success.

    Thank you for your attention.