Economic security is key

Eight years ago today on June 15, 2001, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan jointly proclaimed the establishment of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, with its foundation firmly rooted in mutual support for each other's core independence, sovereignty and security.

In these eight years, the member states have made significant headway in multilateral cooperation - in areas ranging from politics and economy to culture and people-to-people communication.

Above all, they joined hands to resolutely battle terrorism, separatism and extremism in order to secure national and regional stability as a prerequisite for economic development.