SHANGHAI, June 15 (RIA Novosti) - Russian President Vladimir Putin Thursday called on the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) to tighten cooperation in the spheres of healthcare and education.
Putin told the heads of SCO member states at the organization's annual summit in Shanghai that Russia was ready to step up cooperation in higher education, particularly regarding use of distance learning.
"You all know that we made steps to develop youth relations," the president said. "It would be logical to set up the SCO youth association."
The SCO was set up in 1991 as a regional security organization by Russia and China plus four former Soviet republics in Central Asia - Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
Putin added that healthcare was also an important issue for the organization.
"One of the important areas is the prevention and treatment of pandemics and infectious diseases," Putin said.
Russia has said that education and healthcare - in particular the fight against infectious diseases - are two of its priorities for its chairmanship of the Group of Eight industrialized nations this year. Both areas are also covered by "national projects" that Putin outlined in his May 10 state of the nation address in a bid to boost living standards in the country.
Putin also said that SCO member states should cooperate in reducing poverty and unemployment, as well as in efforts to make education and cultural treasures more accessible.
The leaders of Iran, Pakistan, India and Mongolia, which currently have observer status in the group but have expressed interest in becoming full members, are also attending this year's summit, being held in the organization's Chinese hometown.
