SCO Defense Ministers' Meeting: Defense chiefs discuss ways to improve coordinated efforts

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Eight defense ministers from countries of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization met in Beijing on Tuesday. Tang Bo has more.

The defense minister meetings are the first since India and Pakistan were admitted into the Shanghai Cooperation Organization last year. Along with the eight defense ministers, representatives from the organization's Secretariat and anti-terrorism agency, also participated, as did guests from observer state Belarus.

WEI FENGHE, CHINESE DEFENSE MINISTER "The theme for this year's defense ministers' meeting is about building a community of a common future, and seeking development through innovation and cooperation. We should move forward with the consensus reached by all member state leaders and improve our defense cooperation, so as to maintain regional peace and stability."

A communique that came out of Tuesday's meet expressed support for improving coordination among the defense ministries.

The participants exchanged views on international and regional security issues, and expressed confidence over the potential for successful cooperation. The meeting is part of preparations for the SCO summit to be held in China in June. It is just one of the organization's many ministerial-level meetings on defense cooperation.

TANG BO BEIJING "Some participants admit that there are some bilateral issues among member states, but they will not affect a collective work. They believe that the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and its defense ministers meeting will eventually pave the way for more interaction in defense cooperation and other fields for all member states. Tang Bo, CGTN, Beijing."