ST PETERSBURG, Russia - Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said Monday that Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) members should expand cooperation in trade, agriculture, energy and other areas.

The Chinese premier made this proposal in his speech at a SCO prime ministers' meeting opened here Monday.

Wen said SCO member states should grasp the opportunity brought about by their economic restructuring and take positive steps to promote trade cooperation.

The premier suggested SCO members build a multi-level and multi-channel financing cooperation system to provide support for regional economic cooperation projects. They should also expand cooperation in currency swap and in the use of their own currencies for settlement and enhance macroeconomic and financial policy coordination, said Wen.

SCO countries should also move faster toward the interconnection of their infrastructure facilities for transport, energy and telecommunications so as to lay a solid foundation for regional trade and economic cooperation, said Wen.

The Chinese premier urged the promotion of clean energy resources such as nuclear, solar, and wind power among SCO members to diversify their energy supply.

Wen asked SCO members to improve mechanisms for cooperation in food security through the establishment of a SCO "seed bank" for the promotion of fine crop varieties, and through more agri-tech training and enhanced prevention and control of animal and plant diseases and epidemics.

Wen also asked SCO members to boost their ability to handle public health emergencies through the establishment of an information sharing mechanism and a joint prevention and control system for human diseases and epidemics.

He also proposed cooperation in science and technology, more exchanges between youths and closer cooperation with observer nations.

Wen said since its establishment 10 years ago, the SCO has made steady progress toward the goal of safeguarding regional security and promoting common development, created a harmonious political environment for its members, and generated a powerful force against the three evil forces of terrorism, separatism and extremism.

The SCO has also further advanced economic cooperation and fostered a faith in friendship from generation to generation among the SCO members, Wen added.

As the world is undergoing profound changes, the SCO should not only be able to weather severe tests but also seize the opportunity to grow so as to benefit the peoples in the region and make due contributions to a fair and equitable new international political and economic order, said Wen.

The SCO, which was founded in Shanghai in 2001, groups China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. India, Iran, Mongolia and Pakistan are SCO observers while Sri Lanka and Belarus are its dialogue partners.

The next SCO prime ministers' meeting will be held in Kyrgyzstan in 2012.