"Since the last prime ministers’ meeting in 2008, the SCO has withstood the global financial crisis, the members were further united and supported each other on the issues concerning their core interests such as sovereignty, security and development," Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Wang Guangya said at a briefing on the meeting.

The annual meeting, slated for 14 October in Beijing, will be chaired by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and attended by his counterparts or other representatives from Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, as well as the SCO observer nations and Afghanistan, Xinhua reported.

Wang hailed the SCO cooperation in such fields as security, economy, transport, energy, telecommunication, science and technology, education, cultural and social sectors.

The SCO, however, is facing impacts from the global financial crisis, threats of the "three evil forces" of separatism, terrorism and extremism, furious drug trafficking and cross-border crimes as well as volatile situation in Afghanistan and frequent public health emergencies.

"Confronting with those new problems, new threats and new challenges, the SCO members have realized that they could reduce the impacts to the utmost extent only through unity and self-improvement," Wang said.

On the Afghanistan situation, Wang said China, along with other SCO members, made different contributions to peace and stability in the war-hit central Asian state.

"Our methods were various but our desire for the country to resume peace at an early date were the same and our efforts were remarkable," Wang said.

On the fight against terrorism, Wang said the SCO share the same task of tackling the "three evil forces" including the global terrorism which has posed major threat to the international community.

"The SCO members will enhance their determination to jointly fight against terrorism during this meeting," Wang said.

During the meeting, there will be closed-door meetings, full-range talks, agreements signing ceremonies, business forums and press conferences.