Thursday, June 15 2006 11:31 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Shanghai: India today(June 15, 2006) described itself as a 'victim of terrorism' and promised to cooperate with members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in combating the scourge and other challenges to peace and stability.

"We share the main SCO objectives of combating all forms of intolerance and fundamentalism in our region," Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Murli Deora said in his address to the Fifth Summit of the SCO here in the eastern Chinese metropolis.

"India, a victim of terrorism, appreciates the SCO's firm stand against terrorism and commits itself in working closely with all SCO countries in countering terrorism and challenges to peace and stability," Deora, heading the Indian delegation told the audience, which included Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf.

"As an observer, India is keen to associate itself fully with the SCO and contribute to and enrich ourselves by close association," he said.

He noted that the economic and social progress made by Asia in the recent past has forced the world to take notice of them.

"At the same time, there are disparities in their road to development," he noted.

Deora said that India has unique developmental experience which it is willing to share with SCO member nations for common development.