Picture shows the opening session of the annual summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Dushanbe, capital of Tajikistan, August 28, 2008.(Xinhua/Shen Bohan) Photo Gallery>>>

    DUSHANBE, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- Top leaders of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) agreed Thursday that any attempt to solve problems by merely resorting to force could not work and would only hinder a comprehensive settlement of local conflicts.

    A comprehensive solution to existing problems can be found only by taking into account the interests of all parties involved and including them all in the negotiation process rather than isolating any of them, said the leaders in a joint declaration issued at the conclusion of their summit in the Tajik capital.

    Any attempt to strengthen a country's own security at the expense of that of others is detrimental to maintaining global security and stability, they said.

    On the issue of South Ossetia, the SCO members expressed their deep worries over the tense situation triggered by the South Ossetia conflict, and called on relevant parties to solve existing problems peacefully through dialogue, strive for reconciliation and push for negotiations.

    The SCO leaders welcomed the six-point proposal on solving the conflict which was reached in Moscow on Aug. 12, expressing their support for Russia's positive role in promoting peace and cooperation in the region.

    On the prevention of conflicts, the leaders pledged to abide by the UN Charter and relevant UN Security Council resolutions and basic norms governing international law in the process.

    The UN Security Council, which is entrusted with the major responsibility of safeguarding world peace and security, should play a leading role in this regard, they said.

    The declaration was signed by Chinese President Hu Jintao, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev, Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev, Tajik President Emomali Rakhmon and Uzbek President Islam Karimov.

SCO countries urge extensive cooperation to meet demand for resources

    DUSHANBE, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- Member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) on Thursday called for extensive international cooperation in addressing the issue of global demand for resources.

    The issue should not be resolved at the expense of the environment, the SCO leaders said in a joint declaration. Full story

China, Tajikistan agree to enhance good-neighborly, cooperative relations 

    DUSHANBE, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- Visiting Chinese President Hu Jintao and his Tajik counterpart Emomali Rakhmon have agreed to enhance the good-neighborly and cooperative relations between the two neighbors, said a joint statement issued here Wednesday.

    According to the statement, the two sides agreed that the Chinese-Tajik Good-Neighborly and Friendly Cooperation Treaty signed last year bears historic and realistic significance by forging a solid legal basis for the development of bilateral ties. Full story

China, Tajikistan to continue co-op in combating terrorism, drug-related crime 

    DUSHANBE, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- China and Tajikistan agreed on Wednesday to continue cooperation in combating terrorism and drug-related crime, the two sides said in a joint statement following a meeting between the presidents of both countries.

    In the statement, both sides agreed that cracking down on the East Turkistan terrorists is a significant part of the international struggle against terrorism. Full story

China, Tajikistan to boost economic ties 

    DUSHANBE, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- China and Tajikistan are to strengthen cooperation in the economic, trade and several other fields, according to a joint statement issued here Wednesday.

    Earlier, visiting Chinese President Hu Jintao and his Tajik counterpart Emomali Rakhmon held a meeting in which both agreed that economic and trade cooperation bears special significance for the all-round development of bilateral ties. Full story

China to further mining, agricultural co-op with Tajikistan 

    DUSHANBE, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- China will expand cooperation with Tajikistan in such fields as mining and agriculture in a bid to further bilateral ties, visiting Chinese President Hu Jintao said here Wednesday .

    Sino-Tajik economic and trade cooperation is progressing in an all-round way and relevant government institutions on both sides have played important roles in directing such work, said President Hu, who is on his first state visit to the Central Asian country. Full story

President Hu calls for enhancing legislative co-op with Tajikistan 

    DUSHANBE, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- It is necessary for China to strengthen legislative cooperation with Tajikistan in a bid to promote practical cooperation between the two sides, visiting Chinese President Hu Jintao said here Wednesday.

    "We support the two legislatures to exchange experience and learn from each other in such fields as establishing economic laws, supervision over the executive branch and legislation for boosting economic progress and external relations," Hu said during a meeting with senior Tajik lawmakers. Full story

Visiting Chinese President Hu Jintao (L) meets with his Tajik counterpart Emomali Rakhmon in Dushanbe, capital of Tajikistan, Aug. 27, 2008. (Xinhua/Li Xueren) Photo Gallery>>>

Chinese President Hu Jintao (R) meets with his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev in Dushanbe, capital of Tajikistan, Aug. 27, 2008. The Chinese and Russian presidents are in Dushanbe for Thursday's Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit. (Xinhua/Ju Peng) Photo Gallery>>>

Tajik President Emomali Rakhmon (R) greets Russian President Dmitry Medvedev before the opening ceremony of the SCO summit in Dushanbe, capital of Tajikistan, August 28, 2008. The annual summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) opened in Dushanbe on Thursday. (Xinhua/Shen Bohan) Photo Gallery>>>

Tajik President Emomali Rakhmon (L) greets Uzbek President Islam Karimov before the opening ceremony of SCO summit in Dushanbe, capital of Tajikistan, August 28, 2008. The annual summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) opened in Dushanbe on Thursday. (Xinhua/Shen Bohan) Photo Gallery>>>

Tajik President Emomali Rakhmon (R) greets Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev before the opening ceremony of the SCO summit in Dushanbe, capital of Tajikistan, August 28, 2008. The annual summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) opened in Dushanbe on Thursday. (Xinhua/Shen Bohan) Photo Gallery>>>

Tajik President Emomali Rakhmon (R)talks with Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev during a welcoming ceremony in Dushanbe, capital of Tajikistan, August 28, 2008. The annual summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization opened in Dushanbe on Thursday. (Xinhua/Shen Bohan) Photo Gallery>>>