DUSHANBE, June 9, 2011, Asia-Plus – Prosecutors-general from member nations of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) met in Almaty Kazakhstan yesterday to discuss issues related to addressing terrorism and other modern challenges.

Interfax-Kazakhstan reports the SCO chief prosecutors have agreed to closer cooperate with the SCO Regional Anti-terrorist Structure (RATS) in combating terrorism, separatism and extremism.

Joint work will considerably increase the sides’ opportunities in hunting down persons involved in terrorist, separatist and extremist activities, press release says.

The meeting participants also discussed further strengthening of cooperation in combating trafficking in drugs, weapons and human and etc.

In the meantime, Xinhua yesterday quoted Sun Zhuangzhi, Secretary-General of the SCO Research Center of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, as saying that the SCO will pay special attention to promoting stability and development in Central Asia.  According to him, to improve economic and security cooperation will continue to be the focus of the SCO.  Terrorism, drug-trafficking, and ethnic and religious conflict, are some of the problems haunting Central Asia, Sun said.  “The SCO''s efforts to solve these problems will help the entire world.”

Sun lauded the SCO''s practical measures in security and economic cooperation, such as a series of anti-terrorism exercises, the fight against the "three evil forces" of terrorism, separatism and extremism, as well as the prepared signing of investment agreements.  The SCO''s contribution to setting up a new-type of mode for regional cooperation could play an exemplary role for international cooperation pattern, Sun said.  The organization has also enjoyed increasing influence in the international arena.  "In a future multi-polar world, the SCO can serve as a backbone to balance western influence," Sun said.

Sun said China has always been committed to strengthening the organization''s efforts to carry out comprehensive external cooperation, including receiving new members.  He added he hoped the SCO would soon establish a guiding principle about the future expansion of the organization.