THE annual summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization sent a clear signal yesterday that member economies will intensify cooperation and strive to turn the region into a harmonious one with lasting peace and common prosperity.

To that effect, President Hu Jintao proposed the formation of a convention featuring lasting good-neighbor relations and cooperation within the SCO framework at a summit meeting yesterday.

The summit started at 9am at the Shanghai International Convention Center in Pudong, with group photos, handshakes and a closed-door meeting between Hu and his counterparts from the other five member countries - Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev, Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Tajik President Emomali Rakhmonov and Uzbek President Islam Karimov.

They were later joined for an extended meeting by other participants to the summit, including representatives from the four observer countries of Mongolia, India, Pakistan and Iran, and international organizations. Afghan President Hamid Karzai also attended the talks.

"We should respect and support the interests and concerns of all SCO member countries, enhance coordination and cooperation in international and regional issues, and consult on a timely basis on measures to cope with major international and regional issues," Hu told the summit.

He proposed the formation of a convention to consolidate the foundation of political trust, unity and coordination among SCO member states, and ensure the organization's lasting vigor.

After the talks, the presidents of the six SCO members signed 10 documents, including a declaration on the SCO's fifth anniversary, a joint communique on closer SCO cooperation, a statement on international information security, an anti-terrorism resolution for 2007-2009 period, an agreement on joint anti-terrorism actions among member countries, and an agreement on cutting off the infiltration channels of terrorists, separatists and extremists.

The day ended with artistic performances, including a chorus presented by 10 artists, one from each of the SCO's members and observers.

Next year's SCO summit will be held in Kyrgyzstan.