The Shanghai Cooperation 
Organization (SCO) will join international efforts to build an anti-drug belt 
around Afghanistan to combat drug smuggling, said a senior Chinese 
diplomat in Beijing Monday. 
Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Li Hui made the remarks at a press 
briefing for the upcoming SCO summit slated for June 15 in Shanghai. 
"Afghanistan is a major source of drugs," Li said, adding SCO member states 
are major victims of drug crimes. 
"SCO is willing to actively join international efforts to build an anti-drug 
belt around Afghanistan, and conduct anti-drug cooperation with the country 
under the framework of SCO-Afghanistan liason group," he said. 
Li said drug crimes not only threaten regional peace and stability but also 
serve as a major source of money for terrorism and extremism activities. 
Established in 2001, the SCO groups China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, 
Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Since 2004, the organization has accepted Mongolia, 
Iran, Pakistan and India as observers. 
Heads of states of the six SCO member countries as well as the observers will 
attend the upcoming summit. They are expected to issue a declaration to 
summarize SCO's work in the past year and blueprint its task for the coming 
year. 
Chinese President Hu Jintao will preside over the summit and deliver a 
key-note speech on China's policies towards SCO and its suggestion on the body's 
development. 
Afghan President Hamid Karzai, Executive Secretary Vladimir Rushailo of the 
Commonwealth of Independent States and Deputy Secretary-General Wilfrido. V. 
Villacorta of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations will attend the summit 
as guests. 
A conference marking the founding of SCO businessmen commission and an 
industrial and commercial summit will also be held on the sidelines of the 
event. 
Li said China has arranged for activities for Iranian President Mahmud 
Ahmadinejad according to SCO regulations and international convention. 
"President Ahmadinejad will deliver a speech at the summit as other heads of 
states do," he said. 
In line with the organization's regulations, SCO Secretary-General Zhang 
Deguang will end his three-year tenure at the end of 2006. 
"Next secretary-general will come out of Kazakhstan according to the Russian 
alphabetical order," Li said. 
He also refuted criticism on SCO's lack of "transparency", saying the body's 
activities are "open to the world" and its conferences are "open for reporters". 
Altogether 720 journalists have applied to report the summit, according to 
Li.