Cheng made the announcement at a briefing about Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao's attendance of the SCO prime ministers meeting to be held in Bishkek, capital of Kyrgyzstan, from Dec. 4 to 5.

According to the vice foreign minister, the meeting will see the prime ministers of the SCO nations approve a list of measures for advancing cooperative projects between 2012 and 2016, adding that the projects will benefit all participating countries.

Cheng added that the SCO prime ministers will also sign a memorandum on protection of intellectual property rights by their customs officials. He said the signing of the document will lift the level of customs cooperation among SCO members.

Wen will deliver a speech at the meeting, in which he will put forward proposals on long-term, practical cooperation among the SCO members, Cheng said.

The SCO groups China, Russia, Kazahkstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Leaders or officials from SCO observer countries Mongolia, Pakistan, Iran, India and Afghanistan are also set to attend the meeting.

Cheng said Wen will hold bilateral meetings with some of the leaders on the sidelines of the SCO prime ministers gathering.

"This meeting is held at the right time and bears great significance," the vice foreign minister told reporters.

The meeting is expected to lay a solid foundation for future development of the SCO by implementing results of the SCO Beijing Summit held in June. Cheng said it will continue to deepen practical cooperation within the group by accelerating economic growth among its members, and will help lift the confidence and cohesion of SCO members by improving their capability to address external risks.

He added that, since the establishment of the SCO 11 years ago, it has grown into "a constructive force that plays a major role in geo-politics in the Euro-Asia region."