A forum on regional economic cooperation in Central, Western and Southern Asia at the top level was held on 2 September within the frame of the Urumchi Foreign Trade and Economic Fair.

The representatives of more than ten countries and regions of the world, including China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkey, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan participated in the meeting.

The SCO Secretary-General Bolat Nurgaliev said the SCO member-states had a wide common market rich in natural resources, and possessed high production capacities, vest scientific-technological potential and strong complementing economies. They have the capacity to jointly implement projects to assist the development and prosperity of the countries and the region as a whole.

At the same time, the SCO’s cooperation with the partner-countries – India, Pakistan, Iran, Mongolia, and Afghanistan has favourable prospects. The forum has been held annually since 2003.