SCO member states plan to upgrade epidemiological control and infectious disease monitoring. “In general, the premiers will focus on humanitarian cooperation, primarily contacts in health care, science, education and culture,” the source said. They will consider progress in the establishment of the SCO University, regular forums of university rectors and education weeks.

“Deeper economic and humanitarian cooperation and the joint response to global and regional challenges, including aftereffects of the global financial and economic crisis, will be on the agenda,” the source said.

The premiers will discuss a number of joint projects in transport, energy, information and telecom technologies. The SCO Business Council and Banking Union will be on the agenda, as well.

“The premiers will approve a joint initiative, which will spur on multilateral economic cooperation and promote further development of national economies,” the source said. “The joint initiative will make more efficient the fulfillment of the trade and economic cooperation program approved in August 2008.”

In addition, the premiers will approve the SCO budget for next year.

SCO customs services will sign a protocol on training customs personnel. The communique, which will be signed on results of the Beijing meeting, will evaluate economic cooperation between SCO member countries over the past year and define areas of further cooperation.