BISHKEK (Xinhua) – The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is to open its 11^th prime ministers’ meeting in Bishkek, capital of Kyrgyzstan, on Dec. 4-5.

The meeting is expected to lay a solid foundation for future development of the SCO by implementing results of the SCO Beijing Summit held in June. The SCO now focuses on economic issues, believing cooperation will lead economic growth, which will further strengthen ties between the countries. However, interpenetration in trade and economy between SCO members is still unbalanced, which means there is great potential for them in economic cooperation in the future.

Since its establishment 11 years ago, the SCO has grown into a constructive force that plays a major role in geo-politics in the Eurasian region. The organization, which groups China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, has been developing in the areas of security, economy and culture.

To counterbalance its isolation imposed by Washington, Iran hopes desperately to join SCO. This year, Iranian Vice-President Mohammad Reza Rahimi is slated to pay a visit to Bishkek to attend the meeting. A high-ranking Iranian delegation will accompany Rahimi during the visit to Kyrgyzstan. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad attended the 12^th Summit of SCO held in Beijing on June 6-7.