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China and Russia lead group talks focused on security | China and Russia lead group talks focused on security |
(about 1 hour later) | |
The leaders of China, Russia and four central Asian countries are meeting in Beijing to discuss the conflict of Afghanistan and other security issues. | |
The six members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation have been joined at the talks by leaders from Iran, Mongolia, India, Pakistan and Afghanistan. | |
Afghan stability is a "common concern", said Russian President Vladimir Putin. | |
Several meetings on the sidelines are also expected. | |
Mr Putin has had talks with China's President Hu Jintao. | |
The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) group - including Russia and China and the central Asian states of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan - was formed in 2001. | |
Afghanistan has been invited to the meeting as a guest, while Iran, Mongolia, Pakistan and India are observer members. | Afghanistan has been invited to the meeting as a guest, while Iran, Mongolia, Pakistan and India are observer members. |
"Strengthening political co-operation within the framework of the SCO must also strengthen co-operation in the economic sphere," Mr Putin said in an editorial in China's People's Daily newspaper on Tuesday. | |
The group was formed to curb extremism in the region and enhance border security. It was widely viewed as a countermeasure to curb the influence of Western alliances such as Nato. | |
The SCO then began to develop co-ordinated measures to stabilise their economies and maintain growth in Eurasia through multilateral trade and co-operation. | The SCO then began to develop co-ordinated measures to stabilise their economies and maintain growth in Eurasia through multilateral trade and co-operation. |
China said on Tuesday that the group was likely to give the go ahead for a plan to crack down on terrorism. | China said on Tuesday that the group was likely to give the go ahead for a plan to crack down on terrorism. |
'Strategic partner' | 'Strategic partner' |
Nations attending the summit are also expected to further ties on the sides. | Nations attending the summit are also expected to further ties on the sides. |
Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai is due to meet Mr Hu, as their countries are expected to announce ''a new strategic level" of relations, Kabul's foreign ministry said earlier. | Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai is due to meet Mr Hu, as their countries are expected to announce ''a new strategic level" of relations, Kabul's foreign ministry said earlier. |
The group meetings would likely discuss issues of stability and growth in Afghanistan as Nato forces prepare to pull out of the country. | The group meetings would likely discuss issues of stability and growth in Afghanistan as Nato forces prepare to pull out of the country. |
Mr Putin will also meet his Iranian counterpart Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, ahead of talks hosted by Russia to seek diplomatic solutions over Iran's nuclear programme. | Mr Putin will also meet his Iranian counterpart Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, ahead of talks hosted by Russia to seek diplomatic solutions over Iran's nuclear programme. |
On Tuesday, China and Russia reinforced their opposition to foreign intervention in Syria and urged support for UN envoy Kofi Annan's peace plan. | On Tuesday, China and Russia reinforced their opposition to foreign intervention in Syria and urged support for UN envoy Kofi Annan's peace plan. |
Both countries have twice blocked UN resolutions critical of Damascus. | Both countries have twice blocked UN resolutions critical of Damascus. |
Beijing currently holds the UN Security Council's rotating presidency, and Russia and China have long resisted pressure to remove Syrian President Bashar al-Assad from power amid ongoing unrest. | Beijing currently holds the UN Security Council's rotating presidency, and Russia and China have long resisted pressure to remove Syrian President Bashar al-Assad from power amid ongoing unrest. |
Beijing and Moscow also signed a series of political and trade agreements. | Beijing and Moscow also signed a series of political and trade agreements. |
''China is Russia's strategic partner. We enjoy mutually beneficial, mutually trusting, open cooperation in all fields," Mr Putin told reporters. | ''China is Russia's strategic partner. We enjoy mutually beneficial, mutually trusting, open cooperation in all fields," Mr Putin told reporters. |
Mr Putin had said ahead of the trip that he wanted to further boost booming bilateral trade, which reached $84bn (£55bn) last year. | Mr Putin had said ahead of the trip that he wanted to further boost booming bilateral trade, which reached $84bn (£55bn) last year. |