Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev (L) receives a bouquet upon his arrival at the Pudong International Airport in Shanghai, east China on June 14, 2006. Bakiyev is here for the upcoming summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) slated for June 15. (Xinhua Photo)

    Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev (L, front) is greeted upon his arrival at the Pudong International Airport in Shanghai, east China on June 14, 2006. (Xinhua Photo)

    Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev (front) smiles while arriving at the Pudong International Airport in Shanghai, east China on June 14, 2006.  (Xinhua Photo)

    SHANGHAI, June 14 (Xinhua) -- Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev arrived here Wednesday afternoon to attend the summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) slated for Thursday.

    "The SCO is an indispensable multilateral organization for securing regional security and stability," Bakiyev said ahead of his departure for Shanghai.

    Kyrgyzstan will make continuous contributions to the development of the SCO, Bakiyev said, adding that strengthening Kyrgyzstan's ties with the SCO matches the country's diplomatic priorities and national interests.

    Established in June 2001, the SCO comprises China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

    Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev, Tajik President Emomali Rakhmonov and Uzbek president Islam Karimov arrived in Shanghai earlier.

    Russian President Vladimir Putin will arrive later Wednesday afternoon. Enditem