First SCO summit in Shanghai

The heads of China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan meet in Shanghai, June 14, 2001.

　　June 14-15, 2001 -- Presidents of China, Russia, Kazakstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan held the first SCO summit in Shanghai. The six leaders issued a joint statement that announced Uzbekistan's participation into the "Shanghai Five", the launch of the SCO and the Shanghai treaty on crackdown on terrorism, separatism and extremism.

Second SCO summit in St. Petersburg

(L-R) Kazakstan President Nursultan Abishevich Nazarbayev, Kyrgyzstan President Askar Akayevich Akayev, Chinese President Jiang Zemin, Russia President Vladimir Putin, Tajikistan President Emomali Sharipovich Rakhmonov, Uzbekistan President Islam Abduganiyevich Karimov pose for a photo during a meeting of the summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in St. Petersburg of Russia, June 7, 2002. (Xinhua Photo)

　　June 7, 2002 -- The second SCO summit opened in Russia's second largest city of St. Petersburg. The one-day meeting closed after the six presidents signed three documents, the Charter of the SCO, an agreement on anti-terrorism agency in the region, and the presidents' declaration, to chart the organization's development goals and to institutionalize the cooperation.

Third SCO summit in Moscow

The heads of Tajikistan, China, Russia, Kazakhstan,  Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan (from right to left) meet in St. Petersburg, May 29, 2003. (Xinhua Photo)

　　May 29, 2003 -- The heads of six SCO member states held their third summit in Moscow to discuss ways to meet challenges and strengthen cooperation in the region. At the summit, the leaders reached consensus on the institutionalization of the SCO and on some major international issues.

　　A joint declaration was issued after the meeting, in which the leaders vowed to further develop a partnership comprehensively among the six countries to face new threats and challenges and expressed satisfaction over the progress made since the establishment of the SCO.

　　The declaration also recognized the important role of the United Nations in world issues and asked for extensive cooperationacross the world in the fight against terrorism, drug and other cross-border crimes.

Fourth SCO summit in Tashkent

Top leaders of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states and Afghan President Hamid Karzai (1st R)pose for a group photo in Tashkent, June 17, 2004. From right to left: Afghan President Hamid Karzai, Kyrgyz President Askar Akayev, Chinese President Hu Jintao, Uzbek President Islam Abduganiyevich Karimov, Russian Presient Vladimir Putin, Kazakh President Nursultan Abishevich Nazarbayev, and Tajik President Emomali Rakhmonov. (Xinhua Photo)

President Hu Jintao delivers a speech at the summit meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Tashkent, June 17, 2004. (Xinhua Photo)

　　June 8-18, 2004 -- The fourth summit meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) opens in Uzbekistan's capital Tashkent from June 8 to 18.

　　During the summit, presidents of the six SCO member states, including China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgystan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, formally launched the Regional Anti-terrorist Structure of the SCO, and pledged in a joint declaration to cooperate in fighting terrorism and new security threats and in strengthening their economic and trade ties.

Fifth SCO summit in Astana

Senior officials and representatives of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) members take a group photo after the summit meeting July 5, 2005. (Xinhua Photo)

President Hu Jintao addresses the summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) July 5, 2005. (Xinhua Photo)

　　July 5, 2005 -- Leaders of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) , which groups China, Kazakhstan,Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, held their fifth summit in Astana, capital of Kazakh, to discuss measures to strengthen unity and further cooperation in economy, security and people-related affairs.

　　The leaders agreed to grant SCO observer status to India, Iran and Pakistan. At the end of the summit, the heads of state issued a declaration on strengthening cooperation within the organization.

　　At the summit, SCO member states signed agreements on fighting the three "evil forces" of terrorism, separatism and extremism and on mutual help in emergency relief in disasters.