The summit's hot topics include Syria, Afghanistan and border security. Vladimir Putin will brief fellow leaders on the Syrian situation. China and Central Asia tighten cooperation in energy field. Iranian President Rouhani makes his first foreign trip.

Bishkek (AsiaNews/Agencies) - The 13^th annual summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) opened today in Kyrgyzstan. This year, as the foreign ministers of the United States and Russia meet in Geneva, the Eurasia-centred political, economic and military organisation brings together the heads of state and government of 13 Eurasian nations, including Iranian President Hassan Rouhani who is on his first foreign trip.

Since the fall of the Soviet Union, China had developed stronger ties with Central Asia. For China's president, Xi Jinxing, this summit completes a diplomatic tour that led him to Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan, characterised by several energy deals worth billions of Yuan.

At the meeting, Russia's Vladimir Putin will brief his colleagues on the latest talks in Switzerland between the US Secretary of State and his Foreign Minister. As the Syrian regime's main supporter, Putin was instrumental in getting Damascus to agree to the destruction of its chemical weapons.

According to many analysts, Iran's new president Hassan Rouhani could use the summit to discuss his country's nuclear programme with Moscow and Beijing. Tehran is already aligned with Russia and China in support of Syria.

Rouhani, who is Iran's former chief negotiator with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA ), has undertaken a policy of openness towards the West. His goal is to get economic sanctions lifted and to convince the international community that its nuclear programme is exclusively for civilian use.

With this in mind and in view of the forthcoming meeting between Tehran and the 5+1 group, which includes China and Russia, the Iranian President is expected to take advantage of today's meeting to secure the support of Moscow and Beijing.

Created in Shanghai in 2001 with the aim of promoting political and economic cooperation among the countries of Eurasia, SCO now has six permanent members: China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, Mongolia and Iran have observer status; Belarus, Turkey and Sri Lanka are present as dialogue partners.

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