Andri Online News

SCO members to help Afghanistan

China, Russia and 4 Central Asian countries say they will work more closely in stabilizing Afghanistan and taking a bigger role there after US-led forces pull out.

The 6 country's leaders, including Chinese President Hu Jintao and Russian President Vladimir Putin, are in Beijing for a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, a mutual-security and economic body.

At the first day's meeting on Wednesday, the leaders said they will help to create stability in Afghanistan, which is struggling with terrorism and conflict.

They are expected to agree on Thursday to invite Afghanistan as an observer to future summits.

The organization is also expected to step up its involvement in Afghanistan toward late 2014, when US-led multinational combat troops are scheduled to withdraw from the country.

The leaders also exchanged views on Iran's nuclear development and the situation in Syria. They criticized Western moves to impose pressure on Iran and Syria, saying that regional security and stability should be achieved through dialogue.

President Hu, who chaired the meeting, stressed his government would continue to strictly crack down on campaigns for independence in ethnic regions of China. He called for help in this objective.