Statement of Heads of State of
Member States of Shanghai Cooperation
Organization
On International Information Security
(Shanghai, 15 June 2006)
The heads of state of member states of Shanghai Cooperation Organization
(SCO)-the Republic of Kazakhstan, the People's Republic of China, the Kyrgyz
Republic, the Russian Federation, the Republic of Tajikistan and the Republic of
Uzbekistan, met in Shanghai on 15 June 2006 and made the following statement:
The rapid development and extensive application of new information
communication technology (ICT) is one of the most important features of the
world today. Prevalent in all areas of human activities, ICT has formed a global
information system that has a direct impact on all aspects of national security,
including politics, economy, national defense and culture, and even on the
entire international security and stability system. Information system is
becoming an important stimulant of social vitality, and information is the most
valuable wealth and most important political and economic resource of a country.
The heads of state believe that ICT opens up huge potentials for human
development and their enjoyment of rights and freedoms to a fuller extent. It
offers more possibilities and means to ensure effective operation of the society
in all countries and to establish a global partnership for sustainable
development, security and prosperity.
Meanwhile, the heads of state express concern over the immediate threat of
using ICT for the following purposes: to undermine the basic principles of
equality, mutual respect, non-interference in the internal affairs of sovereign
states, peaceful settlement of disputes, non-use of force and respect of human
rights, and to bring serious harm to individual, social and national security.
Moreover, in both civil and military fields, there is the possible danger of
using ICT for criminal, terrorist, military and political purposes that run
counter to the maintenance of international security, which will cause serious
political, social and economic consequences to countries and regions, or even
the entire world, and trigger social instability in countries.
The heads of state point out useful efforts have been made by all countries
to enhance information security. They also believe that the negative impact of
the use of ICT in a destructive way by criminals including terrorists, their
gangs and organizations, and even some countries for military and political
purposes, is extensive, affecting other countries and sometimes even the whole
world. The use of ICT for the above-mentioned purposes may cause a catastrophe
for the entire world tantamount to that resulted from the use of weapons of mass
destruction.
The heads of state emphasize that ICT should not only act as a carrier in the
information world, but also, more importantly, promote closer ties and better
integration among diversified cultures and civilizations. In this process,
religious beliefs and traditions of people of all countries, the SCO's member
states included, should be respected.
The heads of state also emphasize that the transnational nature of ICT and
current threats and challenges make it imperative for all countries to step up
their efforts on information security through bilateral, regional and
international cooperation. Only with well-coordinated and complementary measures
taken by all countries, can the current challenges and threats to information
security be effectively dealt with.
In view of this, the heads of state support the United Nations in its
relevant efforts, including analyzing the existing and potential threats in the
field of information security, taking collective actions to eliminate these
threats and studying the relevant international proposals aimed at strengthening
security of the global information and communication system, and deem it
important to continue these efforts.
The heads of state welcome Resolution 60/45 Development in the Field of
Information and Telecommunications in the Context of International Security
adopted by the 60th session of the UN General Assembly on 8 December 2005, and
express their willingness to promote the implementation of the proposals set
forth in the Resolution.
The heads of state declare that the member states hold similar positions on
key issues concerning international information security and wish to work in
concert to take up new information challenges and threats within the framework
of the SCO. In this process, they will abide by the international law, including
the norms and principles of the UN Charter and the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights. With this in mind, the heads of state have decided to establish an
international information security expert group among the SCO member states,
consisting of representatives of the SCO Secretariat and the Executive Committee
of the SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure, to formulate a plan of action for
international information security and define ways and means to solve problems
concerning international information security within the framework of the SCO.
