SAINT PETERSBURG, Russia - Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said Monday that members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) should expand their cooperation in areas such as trade, agriculture and energy.

The Chinese premier put forward the proposal while addressing the 10th SCO prime ministers' meeting opened here earlier in the day.

Wen said the SCO had played a key role in cracking down on terrorism, separatism and extremism and strengthened relations among its member states.

The premier said, because of the cooperation among SCO's member countries over the past decade, a solid foundation had been built for its development over the next 10 years.

China wanted to join other SCO members in ramping up cooperation in all sectors, he said, adding SCO's development would favor peace and stability in the region and the world.

He proposed all members should step up their cooperation in such fields as agriculture, economy and trade, finance, technology, energy, and promote exchanges among youth as well as cooperation between member nations and observer states.

The SCO, which was founded in China's southeastern metropolis of Shanghai on June 15, 2001, groups China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

Currently, India, Iran, Mongolia and Pakistan are SCO observer states while Sri Lanka and Belarus are dialogue partners.