Shanghai Cooperation Organization, or SCO, a China and Russia-led regional security grouping, Thursday called on member states to cooperate on energy issues to create a unified energy infrastructure, Dow Jones reported.

"Considering existing resources, demand, opportunities and potential, SCO member states will support the development of a dialogue on energy issues, practical cooperation between producers, transit countries and consumers of energy resources," the presidents of China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan said in a joint statement adopted at a summit in Kyrgyz capital Bishkek. "Reliable and mutually beneficial partnership in various energy spheres will contribute to security and stability in SCO region and in a global dimension."

Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev said his oil and gas-rich nation is interested in the establishment of a unified energy infrastructure among the SCO states. He said an energy club within the organization should be established and Kazakhstan has already submitted its draft project for member states’ consideration.

It wasn’t immediately clear what kind of cooperation the organization will promote.

China and Russia are already actively engaged in developing Central Asia’s vast natural resources. Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan are pursuing diversified export routes for their oil and gas output.

The summit also hosted Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov, key energy players in the Middle East and Central Asia, and Afghan and Mongolian presidents.

The SCO, usually seen an instrument used by China and Russia to curb the U.S. military presence in the region, pledged to increase its engagement with Afghanistan and support it in the fight against terrorism.

The SCO leaders will travel to Russia later Thursday to observe SCO military exercises in Russia that are dominated by Russian and Chinese military.