Russia sees Shanghai bloc expansion as key task during its presidency

KHANTY-MANSIYSK, 11 March. /TASS/. Getting underway with an expansion of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization is one of the main tasks facing Russia during its CSO chairmanship, Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Igor Morgulov said in the opening remarks at the tenth forum of the six-member group on Wednesday. "The main aim of Russia’s presidency is to make the SCO more efficient as one of the key platforms for multi-lateral cooperation of region’s countries on security, as well as on the development of economic and humanitarian cooperation," Morgulov said. "We aim at deepening further cooperation on fight against terrorism, separatism, extremism, illegal drug trafficking and trans-national organized crime," the top Russian diplomat added. The SCO is a Eurasian political, economic and military organization found in 2001 in Shanghai by the leaders of China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Read more