fulfillment of the Action Plan on Ensuring IIS adopted in 2007. At the same time with the aim of creating legal framework for cooperation in this field it was considered expedient to draft an intergovernmental agreement in the SCO framework in the field of international information security.

In the process of implementing the Agreement Among the SCO Member States on Cooperation in the Fight Against Illegal Circulation of Narcotics, Psychotropic Substances and Their Precursors emphasis will be put on comprehensive fulfillment of the task of discovering and cutting off the channels of illegal movement of narcotics across the borders of the SCO member states, as well as on the earliest possible launch of practical cooperation in this field.

Heads of counternarcotics agencies of the member states were instructed to hold in the first half of 2009 a special meeting to consider issues of creating in the SCO framework a mechanism of fighting illegal circulation of narcotics, and working out a strategy and a program for stopping the trafficking of drugs from Afghanistan and precursors for their production in that country.

The need to enhance the activity of the SCO-Afghanistan Contact Group was noted.

The heads of state expressed their support for further expansion of international ties of the Organization. Work with the SCO observer states --- India, Iran, Mongolia and Pakistan --- will be lifted to a qualitatively new level and with due regard for their considerations.

For the sake of providing additional opportunities for mutually beneficial cooperation with interested states and international organizations the heads of state approved the Regulations on the Status of Dialogue Partner of the SCO.

A decision was taken to set up a special expert group to consider a whole range of issues related to the expansion of the Organization.

The heads of state welcomed the positive dynamics which had appeared in a number of areas of common interest in trade and economic cooperation, namely the creation of favorable trade and investment conditions, development of transportation routes and transit potential, and modern information and telecommunication technologies. Attention was drawn to the need of making greater use of the potential of the SCO Business Council and Interbank Association with the aim of consolidating in the SCO region a favorable investment environment and involving business communities in the implementation of major joint economic projects. The importance of cooperation in the field of customs was underlined in the context of promoting business partnership within the framework of the Organization.

The heads of state expressed satisfaction at the start of dialogue in the SCO framework on agricultural issues.

The heads of state particularly stressed the significance of interaction in the field of people-to-people exchange as one of the key factors of steady consolidation and expansion of the social base for friendship, good-neighborliness and mutual understanding among the peoples of the SCO member states. An intention to establish contacts among the legislative bodies of interested member states of the Organization was noted.

The heads of state underlined the significance of establishing interaction in the framework of the Organization in the field of healthcare, including the fight against infectious diseases, which is vitally important in terms of providing a suitable environment for steady economic development and raising the living standards of population in the region.

An intention was expressed to continue cooperation in the fields of education and science, and development of cultural and youth exchanges for the sake of strengthening understanding and friendship among peoples of interested member states of the Organization.

A positive development of cooperation in the field of ecology was noted. The importance of continuing the work on the preparation of an SCO concept on environmental protection was underlined.

The pace of cooperation among the departments responsible for emergency prevention and disaster relief was highly rated. It was opined that it is expedient to speed up the work on founding an SCO Center for Prevention of Natural and Man-Made Disasters.

The heads of state highly appreciated the chairmanship of the Republic of Tajikistan at the SCO and expressed gratitude to the Tajik side for hospitality during the Dushanbe summit.

The next meeting of the SCO Heads of State Council will be held in 2009 in the city of Yekaterinburg. According to the SCO Charter the duties of a state holding chairmanship of the Organization in the coming period are to be taken over by the Russian Federation.

(http://www.fmprc.gov.cn)