Member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) will make fresh efforts to cooperate in national defense and security in a drive to deal with an array of challenges, Chinese Defense Minister Cao Gangchuan said in Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic, Wednesday.

"We strongly believe that as long as leaders of all members countries work closely with each other, the SCO will definitely make more contributions to the establishment of a harmonious region in Central Asia," Cao, also vice chairman of China’s Central Military Commission and state councilor, said at the defense ministers’ meeting of the SCO.

The meeting also discussed the security status in Central Asia, and the priority of cooperation among SCO members. The defense ministers also issued a joint communique and an agreement on joint military exercises after the meeting, Xinhua reported.

This is the fourth defense ministers’ meeting of the SCO, since it was founded in Shanghai in 2001. The organization comprises six member countries, namely China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. It pledges to enhance security, trade, cultural, military and judicial cooperation among member countries.