On July 25, 2008, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) foreign ministers' meeting was held in the Tajik capital of Dushanbe. Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, Kazakh Deputy Foreign Minister Nurlan B. Yermekbayev, Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Ednan Karabayev, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Tajik Foreign Minister Khamrokhon Zarifi, Uzbek First Deputy Foreign Minister Ilkhom Nematov and SCO Secretary General Bolat Nurgaliyev attended the meeting.

At the meeting, foreign ministers from the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) conducted a study and analysis of the situation facing the SCO, summarized the implementation of the consensus and resolution reached at the Bishkek summit last year and made political preparation for the next month's Dushanbe summit. They also exchanged views on current major international and regional issues.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is an effective mechanism for maintaining regional security and stability, said Yang while addressing the meeting. He noted the SCO is also tasked with promoting the common development of its member states, which is in keeping with their fundamental interests. SCO members should concentrate on implementing the Treaty on Long-term Good-neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation signed at a summit last year in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, as well as the consensus reached by their leaders, he said. Yang also called on SCO members to consolidate good-neighborliness and mutual trust, strengthen solidarity and cooperation, steadfastly support each other on issues of sovereignty and territorial integrity, security and development, and enhance coordination in international and regional affairs. With these efforts, the organization should strive to raise the level of their pragmatic cooperation in various fields in an all-round way so as to inject new vigor into the organization, the Chinese foreign minister added. Yang suggested that SCO members should strengthen political consultations and cooperation in preparing for next month's SCO summit, he said. In the field of security, they should deepen cooperation in their joint fight against terrorism, drug trafficking and other forms of transnational crime, said the Chinese foreign minister. He also urged SCO members to tap potential in economic and trade cooperation and enhance cooperation in such fields as agriculture, transport, investment and finance. SCO members should also expand humanities cooperation and boost cooperation on disaster relief, health, science and technology, youth and tourism. In line with the principle of openness, transparency and not being directed against any third party, the SCO should conduct extensive cooperation with other countries and international organizations, he said.

Yang said China attaches great importance to the SCO and has actively participated in the organization's affairs. China is ready to work with other SCO members to continue to promote the development of the organization, he added.

At the meeting, the foreign ministers said their countries share identical or similar views on major international and regional issues and their cooperation in such fields as security, foreign affairs, trade and economy has been fruitful. They also agreed to make unremitting efforts to implement the Treaty on Long-term Good-neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation and build mutual trust and all-round cooperation. SCO members will also deepen pragmatic cooperation with the SCO's observer states in areas of common interest, strengthen cooperation with other international organizations, set up a mechanism for dialogue partnership, and establish links with all countries and international organizations that are interested in the SCO, said the foreign ministers.

The foreign ministers expressed concern over the situation in Afghanistan, saying that they attach importance to the role of SCO-Afghanistan liaison group in preventing threats from within Afghanistan. All SCO members will work with the United Nations and other relevant organizations to contribute to Afghanistan's stability and assist with its economic reconstruction.

The foreign ministers also expressed wish and support for the success of the Beijing Olympic Games.

After the meeting, the foreign ministers signed a resolution on preparations for next month's SCO summit and the development of the organization and jointly met the press.

On the same day, Tajik President Emomali Rakhmon met with foreign ministers attending the meeting.

On the sidelines of the meeting, Yang Jiechi met with Uzbek First Deputy Foreign Minister Ilkhom Nematov, exchanging views on enhancing bilateral friendly cooperation and the development of SCO.