SHANGHAi -- The Chinese government attaches great importance to judicial
cooperation within the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) framework and
will work with other SCO members to enhance it, said President Hu Jintao.
"We will work with governments of SCO countries to improve judicial
cooperation mechanisms and boost cooperation in accordance with the 'Shanghai
Spirit', the Charter of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and other relevant
legal documents," Hu said in a congratulatory letter sent to the first SCO
supreme court presidents conference, which opened Thursday morning in Shanghai.
Luo Gan, who is a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of
the Communist Party of China Central Committee, and about 50 presidents of
supreme courts and judges from the six SCO member countries attended the opening
ceremony.
Hu said judicial cooperation is an important part of SCO work. Exchanges and
cooperation among the supreme courts of SCO members are essential to the fight
against cross-border crime and the "three evil forces" of terrorism, extremism
and separatism, and the promotion of peace and development in the region.
The SCO acts in accordance with the "Shanghai Spirit" that values mutual
trust, equality, consultation, respect for different cultures and common
development, he said.
"Member countries have deepened and broadened pragmatic cooperation in
political, security, economic and cultural fields and the SCO has projected an
image of peace, cooperation and openness to the international community," Hu
said.
Luo Gan said the conference is an important step in boosting cooperation
between SCO member countries.
Xiao Yang, president of China's Supreme People's Court, called for measures
at regional, bilateral and national levels to prevent and check the "three evil
forces", cross-border drug trafficking and related crimes in order to advance
the cause of peace, consultation, openness, prosperity and harmony in the
region.
According to China's Supreme People's Court, which organized the conference,
a major topic is the establishment of a cooperation mechanism to deal with
cross-border crime and strengthen judicial cooperation in the fight against the
"three evil forces".
The presidents of the supreme courts will discuss the judicial role in
boosting social development, guaranteeing justice, improving judicial efficiency
and enhancing the cooperation mechanism among the courts of SCO member
countries.
The conference will issue a joint statement.
Founded in June 2001, the SCO comprises China, Russia and the four central
Asian states of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. SCO member
countries cooperate in the security, economic, trade, cultural, military and
judicial fields.
Since the September 11 incident in the United States, SCO member countries
have strengthened anti-terrorism cooperation and cracked down on the "three evil
forces" in the region.