Special report: 2008 Olympic Games

    BEIJING, July 3 (Xinhua) -- China is ready to step up cooperation with other Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) members on security and anti-terrorism efforts during the Beijing Olympic Games, China's top security official said here Thursday.

    Meng Jianzhu, State Councilor and Minister of Public Security, made the remark when meeting with security officials from the other five SCO members: Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistanand Uzbekistan.

    The security officials are in Beijing to attend an unscheduled meeting of the SCO Regional Anti-Terrorism Structure, focusing on security at the Games. The two-day meeting opened on Thursday and is expected to produce a communique on its conclusion on Friday.

    Meng said since its establishment in 2004, the SCO Regional Anti-Terrorism Structure had cooperated effectively in safeguarding regional peace and fighting the "three evil forces" of terrorism, separatism and extremism.

    Meng thanked other SCO members for their support in the Olympic torch relay in Russia and Kazakhstan.

    Security officials from Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan expressed willingness to strengthen cooperation with China on Olympic security. They expressed confidence that with the effective work of the Chinese government and close cooperation of the SCO, the Games would be a success.

    SCO Secretary General Bolat Nurgaliyev also attended the meeting.

    The SCO, founded in 2001, aims to strengthen mutual trust and friendship among its members, expand effective cooperation in politics, economy, trade, science, technology, education, energy, transport and environment protection, safeguard and guarantee regional peace, security and stability, and push for the establishment of a democratic, just and rational international political and economic order.