BEIJING: China will make its utmost efforts to ensure the success of the Beijing summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), Chinese President Hu Jintao said on Friday.

The Chinese President made the pledge during a meeting with foreign ministers from the SCO member states of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

“The Beijing summit, slated for early next month is an important meeting in terms of inheriting past traditions and breaking new ground,” stated Hu Jintao. He said that  China will prepare well for the meeting and enhance its contact with other members.

The SCO is an inter-governmental mutual security organization which was founded in 2001 in Shanghai by the leaders of China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Except for Uzbekistan, the other countries had been members of the “Shanghai Five”, founded in 1996; after the inclusion of Uzbekistan in 2001, the members renamed the organisation.

Pakistan holds the status of Observer States alongside India, Mongolia and Iran.