BEIJING: China said Wednesday it would support the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) with funds to join in the 2010 Shanghai Expo.

"The SCO can show its achievements at the place of its birth," Premier Wen Jiabao told the press after the eighth prime ministers' meeting of the SCO member states in Beijing.

During the meeting, Wen reiterated that China would adhere to the principle of building friendship and partnership with neighboring countries, and would deepen cooperation with all nations in the region to achieve mutual development.

"We attach great importance to the development of the SCO," Wen said.

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China suggested at the meeting that SCO member states increase financial cooperation, promote trade and investment safety and facilitation, speed up the fulfillment of economic and technological cooperation projects, and expand cooperation channels.

The SCO, established in 2001, comprises China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Mongolia, India, Pakistan and Iran are observers of the group.

The eighth prime ministers' meeting, held in the Great Hall of the People, was chaired by Premier Wen and attended by his counterparts from Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, as well as representatives from the SCO observer nations and Afghanistan.