The Russian foreign ministry information and press department said an extensive exchange of opinions took place on problems of international cooperation in the fight against terrorism.
The sides discussed the prospects of improving the program activity of the Regional antiterrorist structure of the SCO, practical issues connected with Russia's participation in its work, said the foreign ministry.
It was emphasized at the meeting that creation of the Regional antiterrorist structure of the SCO is a very timely step.
It must become the key link in the united chain of regional antiterrorist structures fighting terrorism, separatism and extremism in Central Asia, said the ministry.
The Uzbek ambassador pointed out to the necessity to more actively fight illegal drugs turnover in the framework of the SCO, said the Russian foreign ministry information and press department.
The meeting participants also confirmed the urge to continue active and fruitful cooperation, said the department.
The SCO includes China, Kazakhstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
The organization was created in 1996 to solve a specific task - settlement of border problems between the former Soviet republics and China. Later on, the young states of Central Asia faced mutinies and terrorist acts perpetrated by Islamic groups based in neighboring Afghanistan. Separatists in the Xinjiang-Uigur autonomous area became a headache for Beijing too. That's why SCO countries' presidents decided to give it the functions of a body aimed at fight against separatism. Its Charter was worked out, a collective antiterrorist center established in Bishkek. The five SCO members (Uzbekistan joined later) started to press for the organization to turn into an efficient structure.
