SCO Prime Ministers Finish Dushanbe Meeting

The statement came in a communique signed by the prime ministers of China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan and the Uzbek deputy prime minister, who met in the Tajik capital Dushanbe.

Kazakh Prime Minister Daniyal Akhmetov said the security of the energy sector was of particular importance.

"We once again defined priorities in developing our relations in the field of energy, in the [energy] transit potential of our countries," he said. "I think special attention will be paid to energy security and I believe this issue will be among the most important in the economic development of our nations."

Also attending today's ministerial meeting were representatives from observer nations Afghanistan, India, Iran, Mongolia, and Pakistan.

(with agency reports)