BEIJING – A meeting of the defence ministers of the Shanghai CooperationOrganization (SCO) countries will be held this year.The SCO-member countries will also hold a Fanfare for Peace Military Tattooin China and Peace Mission – 2018 Joint Counter terrorism Military Exercisein Russia.The decision in this regard was taken at an annual meeting of officials ofthe international military cooperation departments of defence ministries ofthe SCO member states held here last month, according to official sourcesin the Chinese Defence Ministry here on Friday.The meeting reviewed and summarized the military activities jointly heldwithin the SCO framework previous year, and discussed activities to be heldunder the SCO framework in 2018.

Pakistan and India, the two new SCO members, also sent theirrepresentatives to the meeting. Both countries expressed willingness toactively participate in the defence and security cooperation within the SCOframework. The Republic of Belarus also attended the meeting as a specialguest.The convening of this meeting is of great significance for the SCO tostrengthen its internal solidarity and coordination after the enlargementof the organization and promote the defence and security cooperation of theSCO in the new situation.The defence ministries and armed forces of the SCO member states alsoagreed to continue to implement the Shanghai Spirit featuring mutual trust,mutual benefit, equality, consultation, respect for diversifiedcivilization and pursuit for common development, firmly maintain theregional security and stability, further improve the defence and securitycooperation mechanism, so as to make positive contribution to the buildingof a shared community featuring peace and stability, development andprosperity.The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) is a Eurasian political,economic, and security organisation, the creation of which was announced onJune 15, 2001 in Shanghai, China by the leaders of China, Kazakhstan,Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan.

Pakistan and India joined SCO as full members on June 9, 2017 at the summitin Astana, Kazakhstan. – APP