KABUL - President Hamid Karzai will meet several world leaders on subjects of bilateral interest on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit, his spokesman said on Monday.
The president would hold talks with his Chinese, Russian, Iranian and Pakistani counterparts in Beijing on important issues facing Afghanistan and the region at large, Aimal Faizi told Pajhwok Afghan News.

An inter-governmental organization, the SCO was established in June 2001 by Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Observer states include India, Iran, Mongolia and Pakistan, while Belarus and Sri Lanka are its dialogue partners.

Karzai attend the 12th summit, slated for June 6-7, Faizi said, adding that the organization would give Afghanistan the observer status. Previously, the country took part in SCO summits as a guest nation.
During his visit, Karzai would sign with President Hu Jintao a document on an Afghanistan-China strategic cooperation agreement, the spokesman said.

The Karzai government has already signed similar pacts with the United States of America, Germany, Britain, Italy, Australia, France and India.
Faizi said the accord would pave the ground for long-term cooperation between the two countries in political, economic, security and cultural spheres. Beijing has pledged $20 million in assistance to Kabul.

At meetings with Chinese, Russian, Iranian and Pakistani presidents, Karzai would reiterate Afghanistan's desire for lasting trade links with their countries and stability in the region, Faizi continued.
The president would also meet Chinese entrepreneurs and invite them to invest in different sectors of Afghanistan's economy, the spokesman concluded. (Pajhwok)