Thursday, June 15 2006 11:59 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Shanghai: Chinese President Hu Jintao today (June 15,2006) said the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) has made 'fruitful achievements' during the past five years in safeguarding regional peace, security and development.

"The establishment of the SCO five years ago opened up new ways for our six countries to deepen good neighbourliness and mutually beneficial cooperation. After five years, we have made fruitful achievements in our friendly relations and cooperation," Hu, host of the Fifth SCO Summit said.

Apart from China, the summit involves leaders of SCO member countries Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgysstan, Tajikistan Uzbekistan and four observer countries including India.

In his opening address, Hu, also General Secretary of the ruling Communist Party of China said the summit would review and summarise the progress and experience of the SCO, look at the current situation and plans for the next step of the organisation.

The summit started at the Shanghai International Convention Centre with red carpets and handshakes between Chinese President Hu Jintao and his counterparts from the other five member countries Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev, Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Tajik President Emomali Rakhmonov and Uzbek President Islam Karimov.