In a recent interview with People's Daily, Deputy Foreign Minister Zhang Deguang predicted the sixth "Shanghai Five" summit would become a turning point for wider and deeper cooperation and mark a milestone in the relations between the member countries.

The nations of "Shanghai Five" have already reached a consensus that it is of great importance to set up a formal organization to promote multilateral cooperation on a complex world stage, Zhang said.

As well as promoting cooperation among members in the region, the top-level summit also aims to contribute to world peace by liaising with other existing regional and international organizations, he added.

The establishment of the new organization will require the drafting of new regulations, the establishment of a standing body and agreement on how new members could be included, the deputy foreign minister said.

Zhang also introduced the history of "Shanghai Five" mechanism and expressed his optimism about the prospects for the "Shanghai Five" which include China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.

China shares around 7,000 kilometers of border with the nations which were part of the former Soviet Union.

"I attended the first 'Shanghai Five' summit held in 1996 and witnessed its progress over the past five years," Zhang added.

The remit of the summit has now expanded its focus to the promotion of regional peace and stability and discussing the world political and economic situation.

Law enforcement and safety, national defence and foreign diplomacy also now come under the framework of the summit.

Vladimir Putin of Russia, Nursultan Nazarbayev of Kazakhstan, Askar Akayev of Kyrgyzstan, Emomali Rakhmonov of Tajikistan, and Islam Karimov of Uzbekistan are scheduled to attend the summit meeting.

The first summit was staged on April 26, 1996 in Shanghai. The presidents of the five nations reached agreements on strengthening trust in the military field in border regions.

The five agreed to invite each other to observe their military exercises and to refrain from any military activities that could be considered dangerous by another signatory.

(Chinadaily.com.cn 06/11/2001)