Security cooperation among member countries of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization will be further enhanced to provide a safe environment for regional economic cooperation and development, a senior Chinese public security official said on Friday.

"Thanks to enhanced security cooperation among SCO member countries, the regional social situation has been stable despite the international security situation becoming more complicated in recent years," said Liao Jinrong, head of the International Cooperation Bureau of the Ministry of Public Security.

He made the remarks at a news conference in Qingdao, Shandong province, ahead of the 18th SCO Summit.

Security cooperation has always been a priority for the SCO since the establishment of the organization in Shanghai in 2001, and member countries have prevented hundreds of terrorist attacks, arrested a large number of terror suspects and destroyed many training camps, Liao said.

The spread of terrorism, extremism and separatism has been curbed. In addition, the countries have extended the fields of security cooperation and established a series of cooperation mechanisms for fighting drug trafficking and organized crime and for border controls to ensure operations can be carried out effectively, he added.

Despite the achievement, terrorism remains the top security concern of the SCO, and the number of drug trafficking cases is on the rise. Cross-border organized crime, gun smuggling and internet security have become the new security challenges for the SCO, Liao said.

Member countries are expected to evaluate the new security situation and draft plans during the summit on Saturday and Sunday in Qingdao to better deal with the new threats, Liao said.

China will continue to push for building a better intelligence-sharing system among SCO member countries and offer them its knowledge and expertise in maintaining public security, he added.

India and Pakistan were accepted as full members of the SCO in June last year at the Astana summit in Kazakhstan. Liao said the influence and importance of the SCO have grown since the two countries joined the organization.

Security is an important element in building a community of shared future for mankind, he said. "I believe the security cooperation among SCO members will reach a higher level, as the organization now covers more area and population."

The eight full members of the SCO are China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. The SCO also has four observer states and six dialogue partners.

cuijia@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 06/09/2018 page1)