Leaders of Russia, China, and four Central Asian states have outlined plans to place energy cooperation at the center of their collective security during a summit taking place on Thursday in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan.
At the summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), alongside the leaders of Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is participating as an honorary guest. Central Asia, rich in natural resources, represents a promising alternative energy source for the USA and Europe instead of Russia, while China seeks oil and gas in the former USSR region, and Moscow aims to maintain its control over export routes.
The summit agreed on stronger energy cooperation, and the participating countries expressed a desire for a greater role in providing assistance to Afghanistan and combating drug trafficking. "The energy sector plays an important role as a foundation for stable economic growth and security, and SCO members are paying great attention to strengthening cooperation in this area," states the summit’s declaration. (Hina)
