Uzbekistan Foreign Minister Vladimir Norov represented Uzbekistan at the meeting of the SCO foreign ministers.

SCO officials discussed issues of further strengthening of interaction within the organization and preparation to the summit of the SCO leaders, which will take place in Yekaterinburg, Russia, on 15-16 June 2009. The sides also exchanged opinion on international issues and situation in the region.

The meeting noted that significant work on further strengthening organization, expansion of practical interaction of political, economic and humanitarian spheres. The SCO activity contributes to societal-economic problems of the region, ensure regional security and stability.

SCO foreign ministers said the organization will continue efforts on creation of effective mechanism against illegal drug turnover, psychotropic means and precursors.

The parties underlined that only close dialogue and interaction with other international organization and states under coordination of the UN can help to solve task on fight against terrorism, drug trafficking, trans-border organizer crime, new challenges and threads.

Ministers called for further strengthening of interaction in international affairs and improvement of mechanisms on coordination of positions on issues, related to interests of the SCO and its member-states.

SCO ministers noted necessity to speed up development of the SCO agreement on cooperation in ensuring international information security and prepare to the SCO leaders summit in Yekaterinburg.

The officials underlined that the organization will pay special attention to energy and food security, global climate change in the context of global financial crisis.

SCO foreign ministers called for expansion and deepening practical cooperation with the observer states.

The SCO is a sub-regional international organisation bringing together six states - Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. The SCO observer status is given to Mongolia, India, Iran and Pakistan.