KABUL - The 14th prime ministers' meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) opened on Monday in the city of Zhengzhou, capital of central China's Henan Province.

During the two-day meeting, heads of government from the SCO members of China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan are expected to discuss cooperation in trade, investment, finance, transportation and culture issues as well as matters regarding Afghanistan..

"Today, the SCO has 18 members (including observers), and the organization makes taking every opportunity to develop as its philosophy and strategy. Our organization's document demands we balance the priorities and practices," said Dmitry Fedorovich Mezentsev, Secretary-General of the SCO.

"We can truly say that the creation of the organization, and the meeting of heads of government, with the current one being held in the city of Zhengzhou, are dedicated to improving the trade, economic growth, investment, financial development, transport, and humanitarian cooperation among all the parties," he added.

The regular meeting mechanism among the prime ministers within the SCO framework was established in September 2001.

The first meeting, held in Almaty, Kazakhstan, launched the multilateral economic and trade cooperation process among the six member states. (Tolonews)