ST. PETERSBURG, Russia, June 23 (Xinhua) -- The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) has become a platform for its members to carry out diverse cooperation and also a popular, attractive and authoritative international institution, Russian President Vladimir Putin told Xinhua.
The SCO was originally set up with rather low-key goals, which were to solve all kinds of border cooperation problems both difficult and easy, he said in an hour-long exclusive interview here with Xinhua President Cai Mingzhao ahead of his Saturday state visit to China.
Now the mechanism has been used to settle other problems and evolved into a platform for its six members to carry out cooperation in multiple areas, including political affairs as well as infrastructure construction, Putin added, noting that security and drugs have also been covered.
"The SCO has become a popular and attractive organization in the region. Many countries around the world have expressed willingness to join it," he said.
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